SCI SYSTEMS INC
S-3, 2000-01-24
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS & ACCESSORIES
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   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 24, 2000
                                                      Registration No. 333-_____

  ===========================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                          -----------------------------

                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                SCI SYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
                   Delaware                            63-0583436
         (State or other jurisdiction              (I.R.S. Employer
       of incorporation or organization)           Identification No.)


                            2101 West Clinton Avenue
                            Huntsville, Alabama 35805
                                 (256) 882-4800
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
        including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)

                            Michael M. Sullivan, Esq.
                         Secretary and Corporate Counsel
                                SCI Systems, Inc.
                            2101 West Clinton Avenue
                            Huntsville, Alabama 35805
                                 (256) 882-4800
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                          -----------------------------

                                   Copies to:
                             G. William Speer, Esq.
                     Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy LLP
                     191 Peachtree Street, N.E., 16th Floor
                             Atlanta, Georgia 30303
                            Telephone: (404) 572-6600

                          -----------------------------
<PAGE>

Approximate  date of commencement  of proposed sale to the public:  From time to
time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities  being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant
to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [ ]

If any of the  securities  on  this  Form  are to be  offered  on a  delayed  or
continuous  basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the  Securities Act of 1933,  other
than   securities   offered  only  in  connection   with  dividend  or  interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box.[X]

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list
the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number of the  earlier  effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

If this Form is a  post-effective  amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the  Securities  Act,  check  the  following  box and  list the  Securities  Act
registration statement number of the earlier registration statement for the same
offering. [ ]

If delivery  of the  prospectus  is  expected  to be made  pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [X]



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<S>                             <C>                <C>          <C>              <C>

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Proposed      Proposed
                                                    Maximum       Maximum
                                                   Offering      Aggregate         Amount of
   Title of Each Class of        Amount to be        Price        Offering       Registration
 Securities to be Registered    Registered (1)     Per Unit     Price (1)(2)         Fee (3)
- -----------------------------   --------------     --------     ------------     ------------
- -----------------------------   --------------     --------     ------------     ------------
Debt Securities (4)..........
Preferred Stock, no par value
  per share (5)..............
Common Stock, $0.10 par value
  per share (6)..............
Depositary Shares (7)
Warrants (8)


     Total                       $800,000,000         (2)       $800,000,000       $211,200
- ----------------------------------------------     --------     ------------     ------------
</TABLE>

(1)      In no event will the aggregate  maximum  initial  offering price of all
         securities  issued  pursuant  to  this  Registration  Statement  exceed
         $800,000,000,  or the  equivalent  thereof  in  foreign  currencies  or
         currency  units.  Any  securities  registered  hereunder  may  be  sold
         separately,  together  or as units  with  other  securities  registered
         hereunder.

(2)      The  proposed  maximum  offering  price  per unit (a) has been  omitted
         pursuant to  Instruction  II.D of Form S-3 and (b) will be  determined,
         from time to time, by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by
         the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder.

(3)      Calculated  pursuant to  Rule 457(o) of the rules and regulations under
         the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(4)      Subject  to  footnote  (1), there  is  being  registered  hereunder  an
         indeterminate  principal amount of Debt Securities as may be sold, from
         time to time, by the Company.  Such amount shall be  increased,  if any
         Debt Securities are issued at an original issue discount,  by an amount
         such that the net proceeds to be received by the Company shall be equal
         to the above  amount to be  registered.  Also,  in addition to any Debt
         Securities  that  may  be  issued  directly  under  this   Registration
         Statement,  there  is being  registered  hereunder  such  indeterminate
         amount of Debt  Securities as may be issued upon conversion or exchange
         of other Debt Securities,  Preferred Stock or Depositary  Shares of the
         Company, for which no consideration will be received by the Company, or
         upon exercise of Warrants registered hereby.

(5)      Subject  to  footnote (1),  there  is  being  registered  hereunder  an
         indeterminate  number of shares of Preferred Stock as may be sold, from
         time to time, by the Company.  There also is being registered hereunder
         an  indeterminate  number  of  shares  of  Preferred  Stock as shall be
         issuable  upon  exercise of Warrants  registered  hereby.  In addition,
         there is being registered hereunder such indeterminate number of shares
         of Preferred Stock, for which no consideration  will be received by the
         Company,  as  may  be  issued  upon  conversion  or  exchange  of  Debt
         Securities of the Company.

(6)      Subject  to  footnote  (1),  there is  being  registered  hereunder  an
         indeterminate  number of shares  of Common  Stock as may be sold,  from
         time to time, by the Company.  There also is being registered hereunder
         an  indeterminate  number of shares of Common  Stock as may be issuable
         upon  conversion of the Debt  Securities or the Preferred Stock or upon
         exercise of Warrants  registered hereby. The aggregate amount of Common
         Stock  registered  hereunder is limited,  solely for purposes of any at
         the market offerings, to that which is permissible under Rule 415(a)(4)
         under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(7)      Such  indeterminate  number of  Depositary  Shares to be  evidenced  by
         Depositary  Receipts,  representing a fractional interest of a share of
         Preferred Stock.

(8)      Subject  to  footnote  (1), there  is  being  registered  hereunder  an
         indeterminate  number of Warrants  representing rights to purchase Debt
         Securities,  shares of Common  Stock or Preferred  Stock or  Depositary
         Shares of the Company registered hereby.




         THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE
OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS  EFFECTIVE  DATE UNTIL THE  REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY  STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL  THEREAFTER  BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION,  ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.




<PAGE>



The  information in this  prospectus is not complete and may be changed.  We may
not sell  these  securities  until the  registration  statement  filed  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus in not an offer
to  sell  these  securities  and it is not  soliciting  an  offer  to buy  these
securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.



                  SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 24, 2000

PROSPECTUS

                                  $800,000,000

                                  [Logo of SCI]

                                SCI SYSTEMS, INC.

                 DEBT SECURITIES, PREFERRED STOCK, COMMON STOCK

                         DEPOSITARY SHARES AND WARRANTS

                               -------------------


         When  we  offer  securities,  we will  provide  you  with a  prospectus
supplement  describing the terms of the specific issue of securities,  including
the offering price of the securities.  The prospectus  supplements may also add,
update or change information contained in this prospectus.  You should read this
prospectus and any supplements carefully before you invest.

                               -------------------

            Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange
                             under the symbol "SCI."


                               -------------------

         Investing  in these  securities  involves  risks.  See  "Risk  Factors"
beginning on page 6 of this prospectus.

                               -------------------

         Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or  disapproved  of these  securities or passed upon the
accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.

         This  prospectus  may not be used to  consummate  sales  of  securities
unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

                The date of this prospectus is           , 2000.


<PAGE>




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS.........................................................1


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS....................................................1


SCI SYSTEMS, INC..............................................................1


RISK FACTORS..................................................................6


USE OF PROCEEDS..............................................................10


THE SECURITIES...............................................................10


LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES................................................11


DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES...............................................15


DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK.................................................30


DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES.............................................31


DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS......................................................34


PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION.........................................................35


LEGAL MATTERS................................................................36


EXPERTS......................................................................37


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION....................................37


INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE..............................37




<PAGE>
[BEGINNING OF PAGE 1]

                              ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

         This prospectus is part of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 that we
filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange   Commission   utilizing  a  "shelf"
registration process.  Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell
any  combination  of  securities  described  in this  prospectus  in one or more
offerings.  This  prospectus  provides  you with a  general  description  of the
securities  we may  offer.  Each  time we sell  securities,  we will  provide  a
prospectus  supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of
that  offering.  The  prospectus  supplement  may also  add,  update  or  change
information  contained in this prospectus.  You should read both this prospectus
and any applicable  prospectus  supplement together with additional  information
described below under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."

         When used in this prospectus and any prospectus  supplement,  the terms
"SCI",  "we",  "our",  "us" and the "Company" refer to SCI Systems,  Inc. and it
subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.


                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

         We make "forward-looking  statements" within the meaning of Section 27A
of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  and Section 21E of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  throughout  this  prospectus,  supplements to
this  prospectus  and in the  documents we  incorporate  by reference  into this
prospectus.  You can identify these statements by forward-looking  words such as
"may,"  "will,"  "expect,"  "anticipate,"   "believe,"  "estimate,"  "plan"  and
"continue"  or similar  words.  We have based  these  statements  on our current
expectations  about future  events.  Although we believe  that our  expectations
reflected in or suggested by our forward-looking  statements are reasonable,  we
cannot assure you that these  expectations will be achieved.  Our actual results
may differ  materially from what we currently  expect.  Important  factors which
could cause our actual  results to differ  materially  from the  forward-looking
statements  in  this  prospectus  or in the  documents  that we  incorporate  by
reference into this  prospectus  are set forth in the "Risk Factors"  section of
this  prospectus,  and  elsewhere in this  prospectus,  in  supplements  to this
prospectus  and in the  documents  that we  incorporate  by reference  into this
prospectus.

         You should read this prospectus, supplements to this prospectus and the
documents that we incorporate by reference into this  prospectus  completely and
with  the  understanding  that  our  actual  future  results  may be  materially
different  from  what  we  expect.  We  may  not  update  these  forward-looking
statements,  even in the event our situation changes in the future.  All written
or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified by
these cautionary statements.

                                SCI SYSTEMS, INC.

         We are a diversified  international  electronics manufacturing services
provider. We design,  manufacture,  distribute,  and service electronic products
for virtually every market segment.  Markets served by SCI include the computer,
peripheral, datacom, telecom, medical, industrial, consumer, aerospace, defense,
and entertainment industries, as well as the U.S. Government.

         Founded in 1961, we were initially engineering oriented - with the U.S.
Government's  National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its prime
contractors  as  our  early  customers.  Building  on  a  strong  technical  and
engineering  base, which we still maintain today, we participated in a number of
significant  Department of Defense programs and later expanded into a variety of
commercial activities.

[END OF PAGE 1]
<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGES 2,3 AND 4]

         In the mid-1970s,  we pioneered the electronic  contract  manufacturing
services  industry,  which  encompasses a full range of outsourcing  services to
Original  Equipment  Manufacturers  (OEMs) for the  production  and  assembly of
electronic   products,   including   engineering,   procurement   and  inventory
management,  testing,  distribution  and depot  repair  services.  We became the
world's premier provider of electronics  manufacturing  services and we continue
as a leader in surface mount technology (SMT) production capacity.

         Although we derive much of our revenue from hardware  manufacturing and
maintain a broad  technology  base,  we are  primarily a  vertically  integrated
engineering  and  manufacturing  services  provider  with  dedication  to  close
customer interaction forming the cornerstone of our activities. The key elements
of our  operating  philosophy  -  quality  products,  competitive  pricing,  and
customer responsiveness - are a proven foundation for success. These fundamental
tenets  will  continue  to guide us as we pursue  opportunities  for  growth and
expansion.

         Our  customers  have  included  many of the  foremost  global OEMs that
require electronic  manufacturing  services,  such as  Hewlett-Packard,  Compaq,
Dell, Nortel, Nokia, Ericsson,  Philips,  Silicon Graphics,  Cabletron,  General
Electric,  Roche, Johnson & Johnson,  Boeing,  Houston Tracker,  Intel, ADM, LSI
Logic, and McData.

         We currently  have 37 plants in 17 different  countries.  We believe we
produce  the  broadest  range of  subassemblies  and  finished  products  of any
electronic  manufacturing  services company.  These products and a full range of
engineering,  distribution, logistic, and after sales services are supplied to a
large  multinational  customer base for a highly  diversified  mix of commercial
applications  as well as for military  and space  programs.  The  following is a
partial listing of products that we build.

Telecommunications Products
o        Cable modems for high-speed Internet access
o        Terminals for tracking vehicles and cargo containers via satellite
o        Broadband digital access products for fiber-to-the-curb installations
o        Transaction automation systems
o        Printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies for use in:
         o        public switching equipment
         o        ground-based RF telephone systems
         o        high speed modems
         o        PCMCIA-format plug-in modems
         o        large cellular network base stations
         o        advanced multiplex equipment
         o        credit card processors
         o        token ring switches
o        PCB assemblies and finished products for:
         o        routers
         o        hubs
         o        switches
         o        multiplexers
         o        GSM radios
         o        battery chargers for cellular products
         o        power systems for base stations

Computers
o        PC, server, and workstation motherboards
o        Home computers
o        Office computers
o        Microprocessor modules
o        ATM motherboards
o        Notebook computers
o        Workstations
o        Servers
o        Ruggedized computers

Industrial Products
o        Bar code readers
o        Test and measurement systems
o        Hand held tracking devices
o        Battery chargers for electric vehicles
o        Semiconductor processing equipment
o        Hand held engine analyzers
o        Sheet metal, plastic, and machined components
o        Ruggedized high reliability assemblies for:
         o        railroad locomotives
         o        broadcast equipment
         o        studio and remote programming systems
         o        special effects units
         o        signal and transmission routing and processing systems
         o        automotive sensors

Military and Aerospace Products
o        Aircraft voice and digital communications control systems
o        GPS User Equipment for fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and ships
o        Systems for the Apache Longbow helicopter: systems computers, weapons
         computers, and communications processors
o        Tactical communications - ruggedized field telephones and shelter
         communications systems
o        Fiber Optic Guided Missile gunner consoles and fiber optic dispensers
         system
o        Data Bus products for aircraft
o        Current mode couplers and Standard Interface Modules for aircraft
o        Flight test instrumentation systems for joint service applications on a
         wide range of aircraft
o        Nonvolatile memories for aircraft and satellite applications
o        Interference blanker systems for aircraft
o        Data acquisition systems for the Titan IV Launch Vehicle
o        Family of standard bus computer subsystems
o        Satellite terminals - two-way terrestrial terminals for voice, data,
         and telephony
o        Sincgars radio card assemblies

Peripheral Products
o        Color ink-jet printers
o        High resolution color scanners and printers
o        Point-of-sale data entry and management systems
o        Video monitors
o        Data terminals
o        Network interface assembly
o        Back planes
o        Notebook docking stations
o        Asynchronous Transfer Mode control units
o        Credit verification systems
o        Memory modules
o        PCB assemblies for use in:
         o        disk drives
         o        disk array systems
         o        optical storage devices and systems
         o        tape drives
         o        large automated tape libraries
         o        graphic design systems
         o        graphics accelerators
         o        ink-jet, thermal, and dot-matrix printers
         o        color plotters
         o        copiers

Consumer Products
o        Video projectors
o        Internet "TV set top" converters
o        Family of digital TV receiver products for:
         o        direct broadcast satellites
         o        fixed cables
         o        ground based broadcast
o        Miniature printed circuit board assemblies for:
         o        camera products
         o        cellular telephones
o        Automotive control/dashboard products

Medical Products
o        Vital signs monitoring equipment
o        Blood glucose monitors
o        Electronic controls for X-ray equipment
o        Printed circuit board assemblies for:
         o        Computer Tomography (CT) scanners
         o        Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines
         o        X-ray systems
         o        ultrasound systems
         o        infusion pumps
         o        sleep apnea pressure pumps

Engineering Services

         Many of our existing and potential  customers are in various  stages of
migrating  from vertical  integration  (where they perform all services to bring
products  to market in house) to virtual  integration  (where  separate  service
providers  tied together over the Internet,  resulting in very active and timely
data  interchange,   work  together  to  bring  products  to  market)  and  will
increasingly  rely on the  electronic  manufacturing  services  industry for new
product development and introduction support. We are benefiting from this trend,
having begun as an  engineering  oriented  company and currently  possessing the
most extensive product  development and related support resources of any company
in our industry.  These  engineering  resources,  coupled with our global supply
chain, manufacturing,  test, distribution,  and after sale support capabilities,
serve to  promote  lasting  strategic  partnerships.  Engineering  support  is a
growing influence on customers' ability to realize their outsourcing  objectives
of lower  total  cost,  shorter  time to  market,  reduced  capital  investment,
enhanced  risk  management,   access  to  leading  technologies,   and  flexible
manufacturing and distribution capacity.

         The depth and breadth of our  engineering  resources  and  capabilities
differentiate  SCI from our  competitors  with customers  seeking to enhance the
product development process through a relationship with a provider of electronic
manufacturing services. SCI is expert in the design of products and systems with
particular   emphasis   on   computer,   communications,   and   instrumentation
technologies.  Our product development engineers and technical support personnel
provide  our  customers  with  electronic,   mechanical,  software,  and  system
engineering  services.  We  employ in  excess  of 2,000  engineering  personnel,
including  the  additional  disciplines  of  quality,  reliability,   component,
manufacturing, test, industrial, and environmental engineering.

Manufacturing Technology

         We utilize  leading edge  manufacturing  processes  and  equipment.  We
aggressively invest in the very latest manufacturing and electronic interconnect
technologies and actively analyze and anticipate new manufacturing technologies.
Our  equipment  is  continuously  upgraded  or  purchased  to provide  increased
production  throughput,  higher productivity,  greater accuracy and reliability,
utilizing the latest assembly technologies.

[END OF PAGES 2,3 AND 4]
<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 5]

Company Organization

         SCI  is  organized  into   decentralized   divisions  and  plants  with
leadership,  oversight,  and certain core  services  provided from our corporate
center. We currently operate 37 manufacturing  plants in 17 countries  organized
into 8 divisions.

Technology Division

         This  Division  consists  of three  plants  in  Alabama  and a plant in
Colorado.  The  Division  was  formed by  combining  SCI's  domestic  commercial
development  engineering  and  support  resources  with  its  former  Government
Division to allow us to focus technology  resources on a range of commercial and
government  activities.  In  addition  to  manufacturing  products  for  its own
customers,  this  Division  serves as a  corporate  wide  resource to design and
support customer  products  manufactured in SCI facilities around the world. The
Division's product line ranges from military and space products built and tested
to exacting  standards to a range of commercial  products  built to order in lot
size of one and delivered directly to the customer base.

Personal Computer Division

         This Division has two plants in Alabama and a plant in The Netherlands,
all producing a variety of finished  personal  computers  (PCs) in high volumes.
One  plant  serves  as the main  production  facility  for a  customer's  global
corporate  PC  business.  Another  provides  assembly  of a family  of  finished
consumer  PC products  for the North  American  market.  The  Netherlands  plant
provides final assembly of PCs for the European market.

Western Division

         The four  plants of this  Division  are  located in  California,  South
Dakota, and Colorado,  and serve the Western United States. The plants operate a
large number of automated assembly lines and offer a full range of manufacturing
services,  primarily in high-mix medium volume  production of subassemblies  for
major  customers.  Additionally,  one  of  the  Division's  operations  provides
fabricated  sheet  metal  products  and  assemblies,  generally  referred  to as
enclosures,  to OEMs and other electronic  manufacturing service providers.  The
Division's plants provide extensive new product introduction services.

Southeastern Division

         This Division serves customers in the  Southeastern  United States from
three  plants in Alabama  and one plant in North  Carolina.  One  Alabama  plant
specializes in general machining, sheet metal fabrication,  plastic molding, and
system integration of precision mechanical  products.  This plant's services are
available  to all SCI  plants.  High-volume  products of this  Division  include
medical  devices  and  satellite  TV  receivers.  A  plant  in  Brazil  provides
production  support for global  customers' South American market.  That plant is
positioned to  capitalize on growth  opportunities  in that  promising  regional
market.

Northeastern Division

         The four plants of this Division - in Maine, New Hampshire,  Quebec and
Ontario - serve the Northeastern  United States and Canada. The plants primarily
produce subassemblies for graphics

[END OF PAGE 5]
<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 6]

equipment and for the data communication and telecommunication  industries.  The
plants also perform final assembly of several computer products.

Mexican Division

         This Division has two plants in  Guadalajara  and one each in Monterrey
and Mexico City and operates SCI's largest number of automated production lines.
The Division provides services to multinational customers for the North American
computer, peripheral, and high-end consumer product markets.

Asian Division

         From plants in Singapore,  Thailand,  Malaysia, and mainland China, the
Asian Division  serves its region with a large number of  high-volume  automated
assembly  lines.  The plants  produce  subassemblies  for  shipment  to numerous
customer final assembly plants,  as well as finished  products for multinational
distribution.

European Division

         This  Division  operates  eight plants  located in  Scotland,  Ireland,
France, Israel, Hungary, Finland, Sweden, and Spain. SCI's European capacity has
expanded rapidly in recent years.  Division plant capabilities offer a full line
of production  services to a sizeable number of global customers in proximity to
their markets. Principal markets include telecommunication equipment, peripheral
products, and multimedia TV reception units.

         Our  principal  executive  offices  are  located  at 2101 West  Clinton
Avenue, Huntsville,  Alabama, 35805, and our telephone number is (256) 882-4800.
Our website is located at www.sci.com.  Information  contained in our website is
not a part of this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference in this
prospectus.


                                  RISK FACTORS

         Before you invest in the securities that we are offering, you should be
aware that the  occurrence  of any of the events  described  in this risk factor
section and elsewhere in this  prospectus or in a supplement to this  prospectus
could have a material  adverse effect on our business,  financial  condition and
results of operations.  You should carefully consider these risk factors and the
specific  risks set forth under the caption "Risk  Factors" in any supplement to
this  prospectus,  together with all of the other  information  included in this
prospectus or in a supplement to this prospectus and in documents we incorporate
by reference  before you decide to purchase our  securities.  You may obtain the
information  incorporated  by reference into this  prospectus  without charge by
following  the  instructions  in the "Where You Can Find Additional Information"
section of this prospectus.

A Majority of Our Revenues Comes from a Limited Number of Customers;  Reductions
in Sales to these Customers Could Adversely Affect Our Results of Operations

         A majority of our  revenues  are derived  from direct sales to original
equipment manufacturers.  Although we have several hundred customer accounts, in
any  particular  period a  significant  percentage  of sales is  derived  from a
limited group of customers. Individual customers whom we expect to exceed 10% of
annual sales in the current fiscal year are  Hewlett-Packard,  Compaq, Dell, and
Nortel. In fiscal year

[END OF PAGE 6]
<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 7]

1999,  our  ten  largest  customers  contributed  more  than  75%  of  revenues.
Significant  reductions in sales to any of these customers could have a material
adverse effect on our results of operations.

         Customer contracts can be canceled and volume levels changed or delayed
at any time  without  notice,  subject to  cancellation  costs,  if any.  Timely
replacement of canceled,  delayed, or reduced contracts with new business cannot
be  assured.  These  risks are  exacerbated  as a  majority  of our sales are to
customers  in the  electronics  industry,  which is subject to rapid  market and
technological changes and frequent product  obsolescence.  Factors affecting the
electronics  industry in general or any of the our major customers in particular
could have a material adverse effect upon our results of operations.

We Are Subject to Credit Risks With Customers

         Our major contracts are with customers in the high technology industry.
Credit terms relating to both accounts  receivable and contract  inventories are
extended to customers after  performing  credit  evaluations.  When  significant
credit  risks  exist,  letters  of  credit  or other  appropriate  security  are
generally requested.  However, credit losses on customer contracts have occurred
in the past and no assurances  can be given that credit  losses,  which could be
material, will not reoccur.

Our Rapid Growth May be Difficult to Manage

         SCI has  experienced  rapid growth over recent years.  We have acquired
and built  substantial  facilities  in several  locations and continue to do so.
There can be no assurance that  historical  revenue growth will continue or that
we will successfully  manage existing operations or future plants we may acquire
or  build.  As we  manage  our  operations  and  expand  geographically,  we may
experience, as we have in the past, inefficiencies related to new operations and
broadened  geographic  diversification.  We may be adversely affected by new and
acquired  facilities that do not achieve growth  sufficient to offset  increased
expenditures associated with expansion. In addition, should we increase capacity
and   expenditures   in  anticipation  of  future  sales  levels  which  do  not
materialize,  profitability could be adversely affected. Moreover,  occasionally
customers may require rapid production increases which can stress our resources.

Our Results of Operations May be Affected by the Seasonality of our Business

         We have not  historically  considered  our business to be  consistently
seasonal,  although  seasonal  demands  for  our  customers'  products  sold  to
consumers may impact our quarterly revenues. In recent periods the proportion of
our  products  ultimately  sold at retail  has  expanded,  which  has  increased
seasonality in our sales.  Operating margins have seen seasonal  fluctuations in
the past, particularly in the first fiscal quarter due to slowing effects of the
summer season. We believe these seasonality effects may continue.

Our International Operations are Significant and Increasing;  This Increases Our
Exposure to the Risks of Global Operations

         We operate  internationally  with the majority of revenue  generated in
the United States, but with significant foreign activities.  Our U.S. export and
foreign sales  represented  44% of total sales in 1999,  34% in 1998, and 26% in
1997.  Much  of  our  manufacturing   material  is  sourced  from  international
suppliers. As a result of our international sales and facilities, our operations
are  subject  to a  variety  of  risks  that  are  unique  to our  international
operations, including the following:

      o    adverse  movement  of  foreign  currencies  against  our  U.S. dollar
           reporting currency;

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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 8]

      o    import and export duties,  and  value added taxes that we may have to
           absorb;
      o    import and export  regulation  changes  that could  affect our profit
           margins or restrict exports;
      o    potential  restrictions on the transfer of funds; and
      o    the burden and cost of compliance with foreign laws.

We Operate in a Highly Competitive Industry

         We  operate  primarily  in  the  electronics   manufacturing   services
industry.  We compete  against  numerous  domestic and foreign  companies  which
participate  in  our  industry.  We  also  face  competition  from  current  and
prospective  customers  who  evaluate  our  capabilities  against  the merits of
internal  manufacturing.  Competition  varies depending upon the type of service
offered and the geographic  area of  competition.  Competition is intense and is
expected to continue to be so as more companies  enter our industry and existing
competitors  expand capacity.  We could be adversely affected if our competitors
introduce superior or lower priced services.

         To  remain  competitive,  we  must  continue  to  develop  and  provide
technologically   advanced  engineering   services,   information  systems,  and
manufacturing  processes.  We must also maintain high  quality,  offer  flexible
delivery  schedules,  deliver  products on a timely basis, and continue to price
our products and services competitively. Failure to satisfy any of the foregoing
requirements could adversely affect us.

Shortage in the Availability  and Increased Prices of Electronic  Components May
Affect Our Results of Operations

         Components  are sourced on a global basis.  Component  availability  is
periodically subject to constraints,  shortages, and abundances. Many components
are available only from a limited number of sources. Some components are subject
to periodic  allocation by suppliers.  Although no assurances  can be given,  we
have generally been able to obtain adequate  supply to maintain  production when
shortages  occur.  However,  shipment  delays  have  occurred  and may  reoccur.
Significant  component  constraints  could adversely affect us. Our revenues are
mainly  generated  from turnkey  manufacturing  services.  Accordingly,  average
selling prices for our products fluctuate proportionally to component prices.

Our Operating Results May Fluctuate Due to a Number of Factors

         Our operating  results are  dependent  upon our ability to identify and
react  in a timely  manner  to  changes  in  business  conditions  and  customer
requirements,   especially  our  actions  in  balancing  inventory   quantities;
property, plant, and equipment capacity; staffing levels; and liquidity amounts.
Accordingly, operating results could vary over time as such conditions change.

We Depend on Key Personnel

         Our success  depends  largely  upon the efforts  and  abilities  of key
managerial  and  technical  employees.  The  loss of  services  of  certain  key
personnel  could adversely  affect us. Our business  depends upon our ability to
recruit,  train, and retain senior managers,  skilled professional and technical
salaried personnel,  and skilled and semiskilled hourly employees at competitive
costs for which there is intense  competition.  Failure to do so could adversely
affect us.

We are Subject to Environmental Risks

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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 9]

         We are subject to a variety of  environmental  regulations  relating to
the use,  storage,  discharge,  and disposal of hazardous  materials used in our
manufacturing   processes.  Our  failure  to  comply  with  present  and  future
regulations  could  subject  us to  future  liabilities  or  the  suspension  of
production.  In addition such  regulations  could restrict our ability to expand
our facilities or could require us to acquire costly equipment or to incur other
significant expenses to comply with environmental regulations.

We are a Party to Legal Proceedings

         We are a party to several lawsuits incidental to our various activities
and  incurred  in the  ordinary  course of  business.  We  believe  that we have
meritorious  claims and  defenses in each case that either will absolve us of or
limit our liability.  We also believe we have adequately provided for any likely
material adverse outcome of pending litigation. After consultation with counsel,
it is the opinion of management that,  although there can be no assurance given,
none of the associated  claims when resolved will have a material adverse effect
upon our consolidated financial position.

         We  have  been  sued  by  the  Lemelson  Medical  Educational  Research
Foundation,  together with  eighty-seven  other  defendants  including our major
domestic  competitors  and customers,  alleging  infringement on fifteen patents
relating  to  machine  vision  and use of bar  coding  and bar code  readers  in
manufacturing.  Lemelson  has been  successful  in settling  similar  assertions
against  certain  automobile  and  semiconductor   manufacturers.   Lemelson  is
requesting  damages equal to a certain  percent of sales for a ten-year  period.
We, together with other major defendants,  intend to contest the validity of the
patents. In addition,  possible recourse exists against the manufacturers of the
equipment  which Lemelson is alleging  violated its patents.  While no guarantee
can be given,  we believe  that  outcome of this  lawsuit will not result in any
material  adverse effect on us. The maximum  exposure for this suit is currently
estimated  to be less than one  percent of the our current  assets,  and we have
provided  for  what  we  believe  will  be  the  likely  outcome  of  the  suit.
Additionally  if  Lemelson's  patents are upheld,  we believe we will be able to
obtain adequate licenses to use them.

We Are Sensitive to Interest Rate Fluctuations

         Short-term interest rate changes can impact the interest expense on our
variable  interest  rate debt,  as well as the discount  (reflected  as interest
expense)  on  our  accounts  receivable  sold  under  an  asset   securitization
agreement.

We Are Exposed to Fluctuations in the Exchange Rates of Foreign Currencies

         We predominantly conduct our foreign sales and purchase transactions in
U.S.  dollars or under customer  contract  provisions  that protect against most
major  currency  risks.  Our  largest  currency  risk  is that  associated  with
Brazilian operations.  Unlike our other foreign operations,  our plant in Brazil
is  directly  subjected  to the  effects  of  currency  devaluation  on  certain
customers'  contracts  until forward pricing is adjusted  accordingly  (normally
monthly).   During  fiscal  1999,  the  Brazilian  currency  experienced  severe
devaluations.  This devaluation  adversely impacted the results of the Brazilian
operation.  We consider the Brazilian  economic  outlook,  while improving,  too
uncertain to predict.

         Other currency  exchange risks  primarily  relate to current assets and
liabilities  denominated in other than the U.S. dollar.  Although we endeavor to
balance such items against each other where  possible at individual  operations,
no assurance can be given that we will be  successful in mitigating  the effects
of changes in currency  exchange rates upon such non-U.S.  dollar  transactions.
Changes in some foreign  currency  exchange  rates impact the  geographic  areas
where  our  revenue  is  derived.   When  foreign   currencies   are   devalued,
manufacturing  costs of plants in those  countries  may become more  competitive
with other established plants.

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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 10]

Our Stock Price May Be Volatile

         Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock  Exchange.  Our common
stock market price has fluctuated  substantially in the past and could fluctuate
substantially  in the  future,  based on a variety of factors,  including  among
others:

      o    future announcements covering us or our key customers or competitors;
      o    demand for our services;
      o    changes in earnings estimates by analysts;
      o    fluctuations in quarterly operating results;
      o    general  conditions  in  the  contract manufacturing, communications,
           computer  peripherals,  personal  computer,  automotive  or  consumer
           products industries;
      o    general economic, political and market conditions, such as recessions
           or international currency fluctuations;
      o    litigation; and
      o    government regulations.


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         Unless  otherwise  indicated  in the  prospectus  supplement,  the  net
proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this prospectus will be used for
general corporate  purposes,  including capital  expenditures,  the repayment or
refinancing of debt and to meet working  capital  needs.  We expect from time to
time to evaluate the acquisition of businesses,  products and technologies,  for
which a portion of the net  proceeds  may be used.  Pending  such uses,  we will
invest the net proceeds in interest-bearing securities.



                 CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

         The  consolidated  ratio of earnings  to fixed  charges for each of the
periods indicated is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             THREE
                                      FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,                         MONTHS ENDED
                            ----------------------------------------------       --------------------------------
<S>     <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>
                                                                                 September 27,      September 28,
                            1995      1996      1997      1998      1999             1998               1999
                            ----      ----      ----      ----      ----             ----               ----
Ratio of earnings to
fixed charges.............  5.11x     6.25x     7.20x     8.70x     10.02x           7.77x              16.54x

</TABLE>



For these ratios,  "earnings" represents income before taxes plus fixed charges.
Fixed charges consist of interest expense and amortization of debt expenses.


                                 THE SECURITIES

         SCI may from time to time offer under this  prospectus,  separately  or
together:

      o    unsecured senior or subordinated debt securities,
      o    shares of common stock,

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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 11]

      o    shares of preferred  stock,  which  may  be represented by depositary
           shares as described  below,
      o    warrants to purchase  shares of common stock,
      o    warrants to purchase shares of preferred stock and
      o    warrants to purchase debt securities.

         The aggregate initial offering price of the offered securities will not
exceed $800,000,000.


                          LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Book-Entry Holders.

         SCI will issue  debt  securities  in  book-entry  form only,  unless it
specifies otherwise in a prospectus  supplement.  SCI may issue shares of common
stock and  shares of  preferred  stock  and  warrants  in  book-entry  form.  If
securities  are issued in book-entry  form,  this means the  securities  will be
represented  by one or  more  global  securities  registered  in the  name  of a
financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial
institutions  that  participate in the  depositary's  book-entry  system.  These
participating institutions, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities
on behalf of themselves or their customers.

         We  will  only  recognize  the  person  in  whose  name a  security  is
registered as the holder of that security.  Consequently,  for securities issued
in global  form,  we will  recognize  only the  depositary  as the holder of the
securities  and all payments on the securities  will be made to the  depositary.
The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants,  which
in turn  pass  the  payments  along to their  customers  who are the  beneficial
owners.  The depositary and its  participants  do so under  agreements they have
made with one another or with their  customers;  they are not obligated to do so
under the terms of the securities.

         As a result, investors will not own securities directly.  Instead, they
will own beneficial  interests in a global security,  through a bank,  broker or
other financial  institution that  participates in the  depositary's  book-entry
system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are
issued in global form,  investors will be indirect holders,  and not holders, of
the securities.

Street Name Holders

         In the future we may  terminate a global  security or issue  securities
initially in non-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their
securities  in  their  own  names or in  "street  name."  Securities  held by an
investor in street  name would be  registered  in the name of a bank,  broker or
other financial  institution that the investor  chooses,  and the investor would
hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she
maintains at that institution.

         For  securities  held in  street  name,  we  will  recognize  only  the
intermediary banks, brokers and other financial  institutions in whose names the
securities are registered as the holders of those securities and all payments on
those  securities  will be made to  them.  These  institutions  pass  along  the
payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only
because  they agree to do so in their  customer  agreements  or because they are
legally  required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be
indirect holders, not holders, of those securities.

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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 12]

Legal Holders

         We, and any third parties employed by us or acting on your behalf, such
as trustees,  depositories and transfer agents,  are obligated only to the legal
holders of the  securities.  We do not have  obligations  to investors  who hold
beneficial  interests  in  global  securities,  in  street  name or by any other
indirect  means.  This will be the case  whether  an  investor  chooses to be an
indirect  holder of a  security  or has no choice  because  we are  issuing  the
securities only in global form.

         For example,  once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we
have no further  responsibility for the payment or notice even if that holder is
required,  under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law,
to pass it along to the indirect  holders but does not do so.  Similarly,  if we
want to obtain the  approval of the holders for any  purpose  (for  example,  to
amend an indenture or to relieve us of the  consequences  of a default or of our
obligation to comply with a particular provision of the indenture) we would seek
the  approval  only  from the  holders,  and not the  indirect  holders,  of the
securities.  Whether and how the holders  contact the indirect  holders is up to
the holders.

         When we refer to you, we mean those who invest in the securities  being
offered  by this  prospectus,  whether  they are the  holders  or only  indirect
holders  of those  securities.  When we refer  to your  securities,  we mean the
securities  being  offered  by this  prospectus  in which  you hold a direct  or
indirect interest.

Special Considerations for Indirect Holders

         If you hold  securities  through  a bank,  broker  or  other  financial
institution,  either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with
your own institution to find out:

      o    how it handles securities payments and notices;

      o    whether it imposes fees or charges;

      o    how  it  would  handle  a  request for the  holders' consent, if ever
           required;

      o    whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered
           in your own name so you can be a holder,  if that is permitted in the
           future;

      o    how it would  exercise  rights  under  the securities if there were a
           default or other event  triggering  the  need  for  holders to act to
           protect their interests; and

      o    if the securities are in  book-entry form, how the depositary's rules
           and procedures will affect these matters.

Global Securities

         A global  security  represents  one or any other  number of  individual
securities.  Generally, all securities represented by the same global securities
will  have  the same  terms.  We may,  however,  issue a  global  security  that
represents  multiple  securities  that have  different  terms and are  issued at
different times. We call this kind of global security a master global security.

         Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global
security  that  we  deposit  with  and  register  in  the  name  of a  financial
institution  or its nominee that we select.  The financial  institution  that is
selected for this purpose is called the depositary.  Unless we specify otherwise
in the  applicable  prospectus  supplement,  The  Depository  Trust  &  Clearing
Corporation,  New York,  New York,  known as DTC, will be the depositary for all
securities issued in book-entry form.

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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 13]

         A global  security may not be  transferred to or registered in the name
of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee,  unless special  termination
situations  arise. We describe those situations below under "Special  Situations
When a Global Security Will Be  Terminated." As a result of these  arrangements,
the depositary,  or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of
all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted
to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must
be  held  by  means  of an  account  with a  broker,  bank  or  other  financial
institution  that in turn has an account  with the  depositary  or with  another
institution  that does.  Thus, an investor  whose  security is  represented by a
global  security  will not be a holder  of the  security,  but only an  indirect
holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.

Special Considerations for Global Securities

         As an  indirect  holder,  an  investor's  rights  relating  to a global
security  will be  governed  by the account  rules of the  investor's  financial
institution  and  of the  depositary,  as  well  as  general  laws  relating  to
securities  transfers.  We do not recognize this type of investor as a holder of
securities  and  instead  deal only with the  depositary  that  holds the global
security.

         If  securities  are issued  only in the form of a global  security,  an
investor should be aware of the following:

      o    An investor  cannot cause the  securities  to be registered in his or
           her name,  and  cannot obtain  non-global certificates for his or her
           interest in  the  securities,  except  in  the  special situations we
           describe below.

      o    An investor  will be an  indirect  holder and must look to his or her
           own bank or broker  for  payments  on the  securities  and protection
           of  his  or  her  legal  rights relating  to  the securities,  as  we
           describe   under  "Legal   Ownership  of Securities" above.

      o    An investor  may  not be able to sell interests in  the securities to
           some insurance companies and to other institutions  that are required
           by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form.

      o    An investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global
           security  in   circumstances  where   certificates  representing  the
           securities must be delivered to the  lender or  other  beneficiary of
           the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective.

      o    The depositary's policies, which may change from time to time,   will
           govern payments,  transfers,  exchanges and other matters relating to
           an  investor's  interest  in a  global  security. Neither  we nor any
           third  parties  employed  by  us  or  acting  on  our behalf, such as
           trustees and transfer agents,  have any responsibility for any aspect
           of the depositary's actions or for its records of ownership interests
           in a global  security. We also do not supervise the depositary in any
           way.

      o    DTC requires  that those who purchase and sell  interests in a global
           security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds
           and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well.

      o    Financial   institutions   that   participate  in  the   depositary's
           book-entry system,  and through which an investor  holds its interest
           in  a  global  security, may  also have their own

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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 14]

           policies  affecting  payments,  notices and other matters relating to
           the security. There may be more  than  one  financial intermediary in
           the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not
           responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.

Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated

         In a few special situations  described below, a global security will be
terminated and interests in it will be exchanged for  certificates in non-global
form representing the securities it represented. After that exchange, the choice
of whether to hold the  securities  directly or in street name will be up to the
investor.  Investors  must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to
have their  interests in a global  security  transferred on termination to their
own names, so that they will be holders. We have described the rights of holders
and street name investors above.

         The special  situations  for  termination  of a global  security are as
follows:

      o    if  the  depositary  notifies  us that it is unwilling,  unable or no
           longer  qualified to continue as depositary for that global  security
           and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within
           a specified time period;

      o    if we elect to terminate that global security; or

      o    if  an  event  of  default  has  occurred  with  regard to securities
           represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived.

         The  prospectus  supplement  may also list  additional  situations  for
terminating  a global  security  that  would  apply to a  particular  series  of
securities  covered  by the  prospectus  supplement.  If a  global  security  is
terminated,  only the  depositary is  responsible  for deciding the names of the
institutions  in whose names the securities  represented by the global  security
will be registered and, therefore, who will be the holders of those securities.

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[BEGINNING OF PAGE 15]

                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

         This  prospectus  describes  the  terms  and  provisions  of  the  debt
securities.  When we offer to sell a particular  series of debt  securities,  we
will describe the specific terms of the  securities in a prospectus  supplement.
The  prospectus  supplement  also will  indicate  whether the general  terms and
provisions  described in this prospectus apply to the particular  series of debt
securities.

         The senior debt securities will be senior unsecured  obligations of SCI
issued in one or more series under an indenture  (the "senior  indenture") to be
entered into between SCI and a U.S. banking institution,  as trustee, whose name
will be set forth in the applicable supplement. The subordinated debt securities
will be subordinated  unsecured  obligations of SCI issued in one or more series
under an indenture (the "subordinated indenture") to be entered into between SCI
and a U.S. banking institution,  as trustee, whose name will be set forth in the
applicable  prospectus  supplement.  The forms of the indentures have been filed
with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement.  The terms of any series
of debt securities will be those set forth in the applicable  indenture and such
debt securities and those made part of the indenture by the Trust Indenture Act.

         Because the summary of the material  provisions of the  indentures  and
the debt  securities  set forth below and the summary of the material terms of a
particular  series of debt  securities  set forth in the  applicable  prospectus
supplement  are not  complete,  you should refer to the forms of the  applicable
indenture and the debt securities for complete  information  regarding the terms
and  provisions  of that  indenture  (including  defined  terms)  and  the  debt
securities.  Wherever  particular  articles,  sections  or  defined  terms of an
indenture  are  referred  to,  those  articles,  sections  or defined  terms are
incorporated  herein by reference,  and the  statement in connection  with which
such reference is made is qualified in its entirety by such reference.

General

         The debt  securities  may be  issued  from  time to time in one or more
series.  The  indentures  do not limit the  aggregate  principal  amount of debt
securities  which SCI may issue  thereunder  and provide that SCI may issue debt
securities of any series  thereunder up to an aggregate  principal  amount which
SCI may authorize from time to time.

         Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus  supplement,  the senior debt
securities  will be unsecured  obligations of SCI and will rank equally with all
of its other unsecured and  unsubordinated  indebtedness.  The subordinated debt
securities of each series will be unsecured  obligations of SCI, subordinated in
right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior  Indebtedness (which
term includes  senior debt  securities)  of SCI with respect to such series,  as
described below under "Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities" and in the
applicable prospectus supplement.

         The  prospectus  supplement  relating to the series of debt  securities
offered thereby will describe the specific terms of the debt securities offered.
These terms will include some or all of the following:

      o    the title or designation of such debt securities and whether the debt
           securities  will  be  senior  debt  securities  or  subordinated debt
           securities;

      o    any limit on the aggregate principal amount of such debt securities;

      o    the  price or  prices (expressed  as a  percentage  of the  principal
           amount thereof) at which such debt securities will be issued;

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[BEGINNING OF PAGE 16]

      o    the date or dates on which the  principal of and  premium, if any, on
           such debt securities will be payable,  or  the method or  methods, if
           any,  by  which  such  date  or  dates  will  be determined;

      o    the rate or rates at which  such debt securities will  bear interest,
           if any, or the method or methods, if any, by which such rate or rates
           are to be determined,  the date or dates,  if any,  from  which  such
           interest  will accrue,  or the method or methods, if  any,  by  which
           such  date or  dates  are to be determined,  and the basis upon which
           interest  will be calculated  if other  than that of a  360-day  year
           of twelve 30-day months;

      o    the dates on  which  such interest,  if any,  will be payable and the
           record dates, if any, therefor;

      o    the place or places,  if any, other than or  in  addition to New York
           City,  of payment,  transfer,  conversion and/or exchange of the debt
           securities and where notices or demands to or upon  SCI in respect of
           the debt securities may be served;

      o    if applicable,  the date or dates on  which,  the  period  or periods
           within  which,  the  price or prices at which and the other terms and
           conditions  upon which debt  securities may be redeemed at the option
           of SCI or are subject to  repurchase at the option of the holders;

      o    the terms of any sinking fund or analogous provision;

      o    the authorized  denominations  in  which such debt securities will be
           issuable,  if  other than denominations of  $1,000  and any  integral
           multiple thereof;

      o    whether the  amount of payments of principal of, or premium,  if any,
           or interest on the debt securities will be determined with  reference
           to an index,  formula or other  method,  which could be based  on one
           or more  commodities,  equity indices or other indices, and how these
           amounts will be determined;

      o    whether any such debt securities  are  to be  issuable  in registered
           form as  registered  securities  or bearer form as bearer  securities
           or both and, if in bearer form,  the terms and  conditions   relating
           thereto  and  any  limitations  on issuance of such bearer securities
           (including in exchange for registered securities of the same series);

      o    whether any such  debt  securities  will  be issued in  temporary  or
           permanent  global  form and,  if so, the  identity  of the depositary
           for such global debt security;

      o    the person to  whom  any interest on any registered securities of the
           series shall be payable,  if  other than the person in whose name the
           registered security  ( or one or more  predecessor  securities (i.e.,
           every previous debt security  evidencing all or a portion of the same
           indebtedness as that evidenced by such particular debt security))  is
           registered  at  the  close of business on the regular record date for
           such  interest,  the  manner in which,  or  the  person to whom,  any
           interest on any bearer security of the series shall  be  payable,  if
           other   than  upon  presentation   and  surrender  of   the   coupons
           appertaining  thereto  as  they  severally mature,  and the extent to
           which,  or the manner in which,  any  interest payable

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           on a temporary  global debt  security  will  be paid if other than in
           the manner provided in the indenture;

      o    if not  the  principal  amount  of the  debt  securities, the portion
           of the  principal  amount  of  such  debt  securities  which shall be
           payable upon  acceleration  thereof  if other than the full principal
           amount thereof;

      o    if the principal amountof the debt securities payable at maturity  is
           not determinable as of any  date prior to such maturity,  the  amount
           which  will  be  deemed  to  be  the  outstanding principal amount of
           such debt securities;

      o    if other  than  United  States  dollars,  the  currency  of  payment,
           including  composite  currencies,  of the principal  of,  any premium
           or interest on or any Additional  Amounts with respect to any of such
           debt securities;

      o    whether the  debt  securities  will   be   convertible  into   and/or
           exchangeable  for  other  securities,   and,  if so,  the  terms  and
           conditions upon which the debt securities will be  so  convertible or
           exchangeable;

      o    any deletions from,  modifications  of  or additions to the Events of
           Default or covenants with respect to the debt securities;

      o    whether the provisions described below under "Defeasance and Covenant
           Defeasance"   will  be   applicable  to  such  debt securities; and

      o    any other terms of such debt securities.

         Debt  securities may be issued as original  issue  discount  securities
(i.e.,  debt securities  which provide for declarations of amounts less than the
principal face amount thereof to be due and payable upon  acceleration  pursuant
to the  indenture) to be sold at a substantial  discount  below their  principal
amount.  In the event of an  acceleration  of the maturity of any original issue
discount  security,   the  amount  payable  to  the  holder  thereof  upon  such
acceleration  will be  determined  in the  manner  described  in the  applicable
prospectus  supplement.  Material  federal  income tax and other  considerations
applicable  to original  issue  discount  securities  will be  described  in the
applicable prospectus supplement.

         Under the  indentures,  the terms of the debt  securities of any series
may differ,  and SCI,  without the consent of the holders of the debt securities
of any  series,  may  reopen a  previous  series  of debt  securities  and issue
additional debt securities of such series or establish  additional terms of such
series.

         Unless otherwise  described in a prospectus  supplement relating to any
debt  securities,  neither  indenture  contains any provisions  that would limit
SCI's  ability  to incur  indebtedness  or that  would  afford  holders  of debt
securities  protection in the event of a sudden and  significant  decline in the
credit  quality of SCI or a takeover,  recapitalization  or highly  leveraged or
similar transaction  involving SCI.  Accordingly,  SCI could in the future enter
into transactions that could increase the amount of indebtedness  outstanding at
that time or otherwise  affect SCI's  capital  structure or credit  rating.  You
should refer to the  prospectus  supplement  relating to a particular  series of
debt securities for information  regarding any deletions from,  modifications of
or additions to the Events of Default described below or covenants  contained in
the  applicable  indenture,  including  any  addition  of a  covenant  or  other
provisions providing event risk or similar protection.

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Conversion and Exchange

         The  terms,  if  any,  on  which  debt  securities  of any  series  are
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock, shares of preferred
stock or other securities,  whether or not issued by SCI, property or cash, or a
combination of any of the foregoing, will be set forth in the related prospectus
supplement. Such terms may include provisions for conversion or exchange, either
mandatory,  at the option of the  holder,  or at the option of SCI, in which the
securities,  property  or  cash  to be  received  by the  holders  of  the  debt
securities  would be  calculated  according  to the  factors and at such time as
described in the related prospectus supplement.

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

         The subordinated debt securities of each series will, to the extent set
forth in the subordinated  indenture,  be subordinate in right of payment to the
prior  payment in full of all Senior  Indebtedness  with respect to such series.
Upon any  payment  or  distribution  of assets of SCI of any kind or  character,
whether in cash,  property or  securities,  to creditors  upon any  dissolution,
winding-up,   liquidation  or   reorganization  of  SCI,  whether  voluntary  or
involuntary,  or in bankruptcy,  insolvency,  receivership or other proceedings,
all amounts due upon all Senior  Indebtedness  with respect to the  subordinated
debt  securities  of any series will first be paid in full,  or payment  thereof
provided  for in money in  accordance  with its  terms,  before  the  holders of
subordinated  debt  securities  of such series are entitled to receive or retain
any payment on account of  principal  of, or any premium or interest  on, or any
additional  amounts with respect to, the  subordinated  debt  securities of such
series, and to that end the holders of such Senior Indebtedness will be entitled
to receive,  for application to the payment thereof, any payment or distribution
of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, including any
such payment or  distribution  which may be payable or  deliverable by reason of
the payment of any other  Indebtedness of SCI being  subordinated to the payment
of  subordinated  debt  securities  of such  series,  which  may be  payable  or
deliverable in respect of the  subordinated  debt securities of such series upon
any such dissolution,  winding-up,  liquidation or reorganization or in any such
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceeding.

         By  reason  of such  subordination,  in the  event  of  liquidation  or
insolvency  of  SCI,  holders  of  Senior   Indebtedness  with  respect  to  the
subordinated  debt securities of any series and holders of other  obligations of
SCI that are not  subordinated  to such Senior  Indebtedness  may recover  more,
ratably, than the holders of the subordinated debt securities of such series.

         Subject to the payment in full of all Senior  Indebtedness with respect
to the subordinated debt securities of any series,  the rights of the holders of
the subordinated debt securities of such series will be subrogated to the rights
of the holders of such Senior  Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions
of cash,  property or securities of SCI  applicable to such Senior  Indebtedness
until the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any additional  amounts
with respect to, the subordinated  debt securities of such series have been paid
in full.

         No  payment  of  principal  (including   redemption  and  sinking  fund
payments)  of or any  premium or  interest  on or any  additional  amounts  with
respect to the subordinated debt securities of any series may be made (1) if any
Senior  Indebtedness  with  respect to such  series is not paid when due and any
applicable  grace period with respect to such default has ended and such default
has not been  cured or waived or ceased  to exist,  (2) if the  maturity  of any
Senior  Indebtedness with respect to such series has been accelerated because of
a default. In addition,  if any default occurs with respect to Designated Senior
Indebtedness  (as defined  below) giving the holders of such  Designated  Senior
Indebtedness  the right to  accelerate  the  maturity  thereof,  and SCI and the
trustee under the  subordinated  indenture have received  written notice thereof
from an  authorized  person  on behalf of any  holder of the  Designated  Senior

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<PAGE>

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Indebtedness,  then SCI may not make any payments on account of the subordinated
debt securities or on account of the purchase or redemption or other acquisition
of the subordinated  debt securities for a payment blockage period commencing on
the date SCI and the trustee  receive such written  notice of default and ending
on the earliest of:

      o    180 days from such date;

      o    the date,  if any,  on which the Designated  Senior  Indebtedness  to
           which such default relates is discharged or such default is waived or
           otherwise cured; and

      o    the date,  if any,  on which such blockage period has been terminated
           by  written  notice  to  SCI  or  the trustee under the  subordinated
           indenture  from the person who gave the written notice of default.

         Unless  the  holders  of  the  Designated  Senior  Indebtedness  or  an
authorized  representative  of such  holders  accelerates  the  maturity of such
Designated Senior Indebtedness, SCI may resume payments on the subordinated debt
securities  after  the end of the  payment  blockage  period.  Not more than one
payment  blockage  notice  may be  given  in  any  consecutive  365-day  period,
irrespective  of the number of  defaults  with  respect  to Senior  Indebtedness
during such period.

         The  subordinated  indenture  does  not  limit  or  prohibit  SCI  from
incurring additional Senior Indebtedness, which may include Indebtedness that is
senior to the  subordinated  debt  securities of any series,  but subordinate to
other  obligations of SCI. The senior debt  securities  will  constitute  Senior
Indebtedness  with respect to the  subordinated  debt  securities of each series
under the subordinated indenture.

         The term "Senior  Indebtedness" means, with respect to the subordinated
debt  securities,  the  principal  of,  interest  on and  other  amounts  due on
Indebtedness  of  SCI,  whether  outstanding  on the  date  of the  subordinated
indenture or thereafter created,  incurred, assumed or guaranteed by SCI; unless
in the instrument  creating or evidencing or pursuant to which such Indebtedness
is outstanding, it is expressly provided that such Indebtedness is not senior in
right of  payment  to the  subordinated  debt  securities.  Senior  Indebtedness
includes,  with respect to the obligations  described above,  interest accruing,
pursuant to the terms of such Senior  Indebtedness,  on or after the filing of a
petition in bankruptcy  or for  reorganization  relating to SCI,  whether or not
post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding, at the rate specified in the
instrument  governing the relevant  obligation.  Senior  Indebtedness  will not,
however,  include (1) Indebtedness of or amounts owed by SCI for compensation to
employees,  or for goods, services or materials purchased in the ordinary course
of business;  (2) with certain exceptions,  Indebtedness of SCI to a Subsidiary;
or (3) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed by SCI.

         The term "Designated Senior Indebtedness" means any Senior Indebtedness
which,  at  the  time  of  determination,  has  an  aggregate  principal  amount
outstanding  of,  or  commitments  to lend up to, at least  $50  million  and is
specifically  designated by SCI in the  instrument  evidencing or governing such
Senior Indebtedness as "Designated Senior  Indebtedness" for the purposes of the
subordinated indenture.

         The subordinated  indenture  provides that the foregoing  subordination
provisions, insofar as they relate to any particular series of subordinated debt
securities,  may be changed  prior to such  issuance.  Any such change  would be
described in the related prospectus supplement.

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<PAGE>

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Registration and Transfer

         Unless  otherwise  indicated in the applicable  prospectus  supplement,
each series of debt securities  will be issued in registered form only,  without
coupons.  The  indentures,  however,  provide  that  SCI  may  also  issue  debt
securities in bearer form only, or in both  registered  and bearer form.  Bearer
securities  shall not be offered,  sold,  resold or delivered in connection with
their original  issuance in the United States or to any United States person (as
defined below) other than offices  located  outside the United States of certain
United States  financial  institutions.  As used herein,  "United States person"
means any citizen or resident of the United States, any corporation, partnership
or other entity  created or organized in or under the laws of the United States,
any  estate  the income of which is  subject  to United  States  federal  income
taxation regardless of its source, or any trust whose  administration is subject
to the primary  supervision  of a United  States court and which has one or more
United  States  fiduciaries  who have the  authority to control all  substantial
decisions of the trust, and "United States" means, except as may be set forth in
the prospectus  supplement,  the United States of America  (including the states
thereof and the District of Columbia),  its  territories,  its  possessions  and
other areas subject to its jurisdiction. Purchasers of bearer securities will be
subject to certification  procedures and may be affected by certain  limitations
under United States tax laws. Such procedures and limitations  will be described
in the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of the bearer securities.

         Unless  otherwise  indicated in the applicable  prospectus  supplement,
registered  securities will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or any integral
multiple thereof.

         Unless  otherwise  indicated in the applicable  prospectus  supplement,
debt securities may be surrendered  for  registration of transfer or exchange at
an office or agency to be  maintained  by SCI in the Borough of  Manhattan,  The
City of New  York.  No  service  charge  shall be made for any  registration  of
transfer or exchange of debt  securities,  but SCI may require  payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental  charge and any other expenses
that may be imposed in connection therewith.

         Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, SCI
will not be required to do the following:

      o    issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt  securities  of  any
           series  during  a  period  beginning  at the  opening of  business 15
           days before any  selection of debt  securities of that series of like
           tenor to be  redeemed  and ending at the close  of  business  on  the
           day of  giving  notice  of  such redemption;

      o    register  the  transfer  of  or  exchange  any  registered  security,
           or portion thereof,  called for  redemption,  except  the  unredeemed
           portion of any registered  security being redeemed in part;

      o    exchange  any  bearer  security  called  for  redemption,  except  to
           exchange  such  bearer  security for a  registered  security of  that
           series  and  like  tenor  that  is  simultaneously   surrendered  for
           redemption; or

      o    issue,  register the transfer of or exchange any debt  security  that
           has  been  surrendered  for  repayment  at  the option of the holder,
           except  the  portion,  if any,  of  such debt security not  to  be so
           repaid.

Payment Mechanics

         If interest is due on a debt  security on an interest  payment date, we
will pay the interest to the person or entity in whose name the debt security is
registered  at the close of  business  on the  regular  record  date (see below)
relating to the interest  payment  date. If interest is due at maturity but on a
day

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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 21]

that is not an interest  payment date, we will pay the interest to the person or
entity  entitled to receive the principal of the debt security.  If principal or
another amount besides  interest is due on a debt security at maturity,  we will
pay the amount to the holder of the debt security against  surrender of the debt
security at a proper place of payment,  or in the case of a global security,  in
accordance with the applicable policies of the depositary.

         Payments  on  Global  Securities.  SCI will make  payments  on a global
security in  accordance  with the  applicable  policies of the  depositary as in
effect from time to time.  Under those  policies,  SCI will pay  directly to the
depositary,  or its nominee,  and not to any indirect holders who own beneficial
interests in the global security.  An indirect  holder's right to those payments
will  be  governed  by the  rules  and  practices  of  the  depositary  and  its
participants,   as  described  under  "Legal  Ownership  of  Securities   Global
Securities."

         Payments on Non-Global Securities.  We will pay interest that is due on
an interest  payment date with respect to non-global  securities by check mailed
on the interest  payment  date to the holder at his or her address  shown on the
trustee's  records as of the close of business on the regular  record  date.  We
will make all other  payments  by check at the  paying  agent  described  below,
against  surrender of the debt  security.  All payments by check will be made in
next-day funds,  that is, funds that become available on the day after the check
is cashed.

         Alternatively,  if a non-global  security has a face amount of at least
$1  million,  and the holder  asks SCI to do so,  SCI will pay any  amount  that
becomes due on the debt security by wire transfer of immediately available funds
to an  account  at a bank in New York City,  on the due date.  To  request  wire
payment, the holder must give the paying agent appropriate transfer instructions
at least five  business  days before the  requested  wire payment is due. In the
case of any interest  payment due on an interest  payment date, the instructions
must be given by the  person who is the holder on the  relevant  regular  record
date. In the case of any other payment, payment will be made only after the debt
security  is  surrendered  to the  paying  agent.  Any wire  instructions,  once
properly  given,  will remain in effect  unless and until new  instructions  are
given in the manner described below.

         Regular  Record Dates.  SCI will pay interest to the holders  listed on
the  trustee's  records  as the  owners of the debt  securities  at the close of
business on a particular day in advance of each interest payment date.  Interest
will be paid to these  holders  if they are  listed as the owner even if they no
longer own the debt security on the interest  payment date. That particular day,
usually  about two weeks in advance of the interest  payment date, is called the
regular record date and will be identified in the prospectus supplement.

         Payment  When  Offices  Are  Closed.  If any  payment  is due on a debt
security on a day that is not a business  day,  SCI will make the payment on the
next day that is a business day. Payments  postponed to the next business day in
this  situation  will be treated under the indenture as if they were made on the
original  due date.  A  postponement  of this kind will not  result in a default
under any debt  security or the  indenture,  and no interest  will accrue on the
postponed  amount from the  original due date to the next day that is a business
day.

         Paying Agents.  SCI may appoint one or more financial  institutions  to
act as its  paying  agents,  at whose  designated  offices  debt  securities  in
non-global form may be surrendered for payment at their maturity. SCI calls each
of these offices a paying agent. SCI may add, replace or terminate paying agents
from time to time and may also choose to act as its own paying agent. Initially,
SCI will appoint the trustee, at its corporate trust office in New York City, as
the paying agent.

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<PAGE>

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         Bearer  Securities.   Unless  otherwise  indicated  in  the  applicable
prospectus  supplement,  payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest,
if any, on bearer  securities  will be made,  subject to any applicable laws and
regulations,  at such office or agency outside the United States as specified in
the prospectus  supplement  and as SCI may designate  from time to time.  Unless
otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest
due on bearer  securities on any interest payment date will be made only against
surrender of the coupon relating to such interest payment date.

         BOOK-ENTRY AND OTHER  INDIRECT  HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR BANKS
OR BROKERS  FOR  INFORMATION  ON HOW THEY WILL  RECEIVE  PAYMENTS  ON THEIR DEBT
SECURITIES.

Redemption and Repurchase

         The debt  securities  of any series may be  redeemable at the option of
SCI,  may be subject  to  mandatory  redemption  pursuant  to a sinking  fund or
otherwise,  or may be subject to repurchase by SCI at the option of the holders,
in each case upon the  terms,  at the times and at the  prices  set forth in the
applicable prospectus supplement.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

         Each indenture restricts SCI's ability to, among other things:

      o    consolidate;

      o    merge; or

      o    transfer or lease substantially all of its assets.

         SCI will not  consolidate  with or merge with or into any other  person
or, directly or indirectly,  convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any person or persons, unless:

(a) Either (1) SCI is the surviving corporation or (2) the person, if other than
SCI, formed by such consolidation or into which SCI is merged or the person that
acquires  by  sale,  assignment,   transfer,  lease  or  other  disposition  the
properties and assets of SCI  substantially as an entirety (A) is a corporation,
partnership or trust organized and validly existing under the laws of the United
States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and (B) expressly assumes,
by a  supplemental  indenture  in form  satisfactory  to the trustee  under each
indenture,   all  of  SCI's  obligations  under  such  indenture  and  the  debt
securities.

(b) Immediately after giving effect to such transaction,  no default or event of
default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing.

(c)  SCI  delivers,  or  causes  to be  delivered,  to the  trustee  under  each
indenture,  in form and substance  reasonably  satisfactory to the trustee under
such indenture, an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating
that such transaction complies with the requirements of the indenture.

         In the event of any  transaction  described in and  complying  with the
conditions  listed in the first  paragraph of this  covenant in which SCI is not
the continuing  obligor under the indentures,  the surviving entity will succeed
to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, SCI under
the

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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 23]

indentures,  and  thereafter  SCI  will,  except  in the  case  of a  lease,  be
discharged  from all its obligations and covenants under the indentures and debt
securities.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

         Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement,  an
Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of any series is defined in
the applicable indenture as being:

      1.          default in the payment of any interest on any debt security of
                  such series when such  interest  becomes due and payable,  and
                  continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

      2.          default in payment of principal or any  premium  with  respect
                  to any debt security of such series when due;

      3.          default in making any sinking  fund  payment or payment  under
                  any  analogous  provision  when due with  respect  to any debt
                  security of such series;

      4.          default by SCI in the  performance,  or  breach,  of any other
                  covenant or warranty in the  indenture  (other than a covenant
                  or warranty  included therein solely for the benefit of one or
                  more series of debt securities  other than that series) of any
                  debt  security  of such  series  which  shall  not  have  been
                  remedied  for a period of 60 days  after  delivery  of written
                  notice to SCI by the  trustee or the  holders of not less than
                  25% in aggregate  principal  amount of the debt  securities of
                  such series then outstanding;

      5.          there  occurs  with  respect   to   any  issue  or  issues  of
                  Indebtedness of  SCI  (including an Event of Default under any
                  other series of debt securities)  or any Restricted Subsidiary
                  having an outstanding principal amount of $50 million or  more
                  in the  aggregate  for  all such  issues  of all such Persons,
                  whether such Indebtedness exists on the date  hereof  or shall
                  hereafter  be created, (a) an event of default that has caused
                  the holder thereof to declare such Indebtedness  to be due and
                  payable  prior  to  its stated maturity and such  Indebtedness
                  shall not  have  been discharged in full or such  acceleration
                  shall not  have  been  rescinded or annulled within 30 days of
                  such acceleration and/or  (b) the failure to make a  principal
                  payment at  the final (but not any interim) fixed maturity and
                  such defaulted  payment  shall  not  have been made, waived or
                  extended within 30 days of such payment default;

      6.          SCI or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall fail within 60
                  days to pay, bond or otherwise discharge uninsured  judgements
                  or court  orders  for the  payment  of money in  excess of $50
                  million  in the  aggregate,  which are not stayed on appeal or
                  are not otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith;

      7.          certain  events  of  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,
                  winding  up or  liquidation  of SCI  or any of its  Restricted
                  Subsidiaries; or

      8.          any other Event of Default established in  or  pursuant to the
                  applicable indenture for the debt securities of such series.

         No Event of  Default  with  respect  to any  particular  series of debt
securities necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other
series of debt securities.  Each indenture  provides that the

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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 24]

trustee  thereunder may withhold notice to the holders of the debt securities of
any series of the occurrence of a default with respect to the debt securities of
such  series  (except  a default  in  payment  of  principal,  premium,  if any,
interest,  if any, or sinking fund payments, if any) if the trustee considers it
in the interest of the holders to do so.

         Each indenture provides that if an Event of Default with respect to any
series of debt  securities  of the type  described in clause (7) with respect to
SCI shall have occurred and be  continuing,  then the principal of,  accrued and
unpaid  interest on the debt  securities of such series will become  immediately
due and payable. Each indenture provides that if any other Event of Default with
respect to any series of debt securities  issued  thereunder shall have occurred
and be  continuing,  either  the  trustee  or the  holders  of at  least  25% in
principal  amount of the debt  securities  of such series then  outstanding  may
declare  the  principal  amount (or if any debt  securities  of such  series are
original  issue discount  securities,  such lesser amount as may be specified in
the  terms  thereof)  of all the debt  securities  of such  series to be due and
payable  immediately,  but upon  certain  conditions  such  declaration  and its
consequences  may be  rescinded  and  annulled  by the  holders of a majority in
principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding.

         Subject to the  provisions  of the Trust  Indenture  Act  requiring the
trustee,  during an Event of Default under the applicable indenture, to act with
the requisite  standard of care,  the trustee is under no obligation to exercise
any of its rights or powers  under the  applicable  indenture  at the request or
direction  of any of the holders of debt  securities  of any series  unless such
holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to the foregoing,
holders  of a  majority  in  principal  amount  of  the  then  outstanding  debt
securities of any series issued under the  applicable  indenture  shall have the
right, subject to certain  limitations,  to direct the time, method and place of
conducting  any  proceeding  for any remedy  available to the trustee  under the
indenture with respect to such series. Each indenture requires the annual filing
with the trustee of a  certificate  by SCI as to whether or not it is in default
under the terms of the indenture.

         Notwithstanding  any other provision of the  indentures,  the holder of
any debt security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional,  to
receive payment of the principal of and premium,  if any, and interest,  if any,
on such debt security on the  respective  due dates therefor (as the same may be
extended in  accordance  with the terms of such debt  security) and to institute
suit for  enforcement of any such payment,  and such right shall not be impaired
without the consent of such holder.

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

         "Affiliate"  means,  with respect to any  specified  Person,  any other
Person  directly or indirectly  controlling  or controlled by or under direct or
indirect  common  control  with such  specified  Person.  For  purposes  of this
definition,  "control" when used with respect to any specified Person, means the
power to  direct  the  management  and  policies  of such  person,  directly  or
indirectly,  whether through the ownership of voting securities,  by contract or
otherwise;  and the terms  "controlling" and "controlled" have means correlative
to the foregoing.

         "Consolidated Subsidiaries" means, at any date, any Subsidiary or other
entity  whose  accounts  would  be  consolidated   with  those  of  SCI  in  its
consolidated  financial  statements if such  statements were prepared as of such
date.

         "GAAP" means Generally Accepted Accounting Principles as in effect from
time to time,  applied on a basis consistent (except for changes concurred in by
SCI's independent public accountants) with the most recent audited  consolidated
financial statements of SCI and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

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[BEGINNING OF PAGE 25]

         "Hedging  Obligations"  means  the  obligations  of  any  Person  under
interest rate swap agreements,  interest rate Agreements,  interest rates collar
agreements or other  agreements or arrangements  designed to protect such Person
against fluctuations in interest rates or the value of foreign currencies.

         "Indebtedness" means (without  duplication) (a) any liability of SCI or
any Subsidiary (1) for borrowed  money,  or under any  reimbursement  obligation
relating to a letter of credit,  or (2) evidenced by a bond, note,  debenture or
similar instrument, or (3) for payment obligations arising under any conditional
sale  or  other  title  retention   arrangement   (including  a  purchase  money
obligation)  given  in  connection  with  the  acquisition  of  any  businesses,
properties or assets of any kind, or (4)  consisting  of the  discounted  rental
stream  properly  classified in accordance with GAAP on the balance sheet of SCI
or any Subsidiary,  as lessee, as a capitalized  lease obligation,  or (5) under
Hedging  Obligations;  (b) any  liability  of others of a type  described in the
preceding  clause (a) to the extent that SCI or any Subsidiary has guaranteed or
is  otherwise  legally  obligated  in respect  thereof;  and (c) any  amendment,
supplement,  modification,  deferral,  renewal,  extension  or  refunding of any
liability of the types referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above.  "Indebtedness"
shall not be construed  to include (x) trade  payables or credit on open account
to  trade  creditors  incurred  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business  or  (y)
obligations or  liabilities  incurred in connection  with the sale,  transfer or
other  disposition of property in connection  with the  securitization  or other
asset-based financing thereof;  provided however that any such sale, transfer or
other  disposition  shall be for valid  consideration and shall not be to prefer
directly or indirectly any holder of any other obligation or Indebtedness of SCI
or any Subsidiary of SCI as to any such other  obligation or  Indebtedness  that
was already outstanding and did not previously benefit from a Lien.

         "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any pledge, mortgage,  charge,
encumbrance  or security  interest in respect of such asset;  provided  that any
transaction  (including,  without limitation,  any sale of accounts  receivable)
which is  treated as a sale of assets  under  GAAP  shall be so treated  and any
asset  which is so sold shall not be deemed  subject to a Lien.  Pursuant to the
indenture,  a contractual  grant of a right of set-off does not create a Lien in
the absence of an agreement to maintain a balance  against  which such right may
be exercised.

         "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
joint-stock  company,  trust,  unincorporated  organization or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof.

         "Restricted  Subsidiary"  means, at any time, each and every Subsidiary
which is a "significant subsidiary" as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X
under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

         "Subsidiary"  means  any  corporation,  association  or other  business
entity  of which at the time of  determination  SCI or one or more  Subsidiaries
owns or controls more than 50% of the shares of Voting Stock.

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

         SCI may, at its option and at any time,  terminate its obligations with
respect to the debt securities of a particular  series and some of the covenants
in each  indenture  ("defeasance"),  subject to the  exceptions set forth below.
Such  defeasance  means that SCI will be deemed to have paid and  discharged the
entire  Indebtedness  represented by the then outstanding debt securities of the
particular series, except for:

      o    the rights of  holders of  then  outstanding  debt  securities of the
           series to receive  payments  in  respect  of  the  principal of,  and
           premium,  if any, on, and interest on the debt  securities  when such
           payments are due;

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[BEGINNING OF PAGE 26]

      o    SCI's obligations to issue temporary debt  securities,  register  the
           transfer  or  exchange  of any debt  securities,  replace  mutilated,
           destroyed,  lost or stolen debt securities,  maintain  an  office  or
           agency  for  payments in respect of the debt securities and segregate
           and hold such payments in trust;

      o    the rights,  powers,  trusts,  duties  and  immunities of the trustee
           under the indenture; and

      o    the defeasance provisions of the applicable indenture.

         In addition, SCI may, at its option and at any time, elect to terminate
its  obligations  with respect to certain  covenants set forth in each indenture
and any omission to comply with such obligations  would not constitute a default
or  an  event  of  default  with  respect  to  the  debt  securities  ("covenant
defeasance").

         In order to exercise either defeasance or covenant defeasance,

      o    SCI  must  irrevocably  deposit  or  cause  to  be deposited with the
           applicable trustee, as trust funds in trust, specifically  pledged as
           security for,  and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the holders of
           the debt securities of a particular series, money (in U.S. dollars or
           in the Foreign Currency in which such debt securities are payable) in
           an amount,  or Government Obligations (as defined below) that through
           the scheduled payment of principal and  interest thereon will provide
           money in an amount,  or a  combination  thereof,  sufficient,  in the
           opinion  of  a  nationally  recognized  firm  of  independent  public
           accounts, to pay and discharge the principal of, and premium, if any,
           on,  and  interest  on the then  outstanding debt  securities of that
           series at  maturity,  or  upon  redemption,  if  applicable,  of such
           principal or installment of interest;

      o    no default or event of default has occurred and is  continuing on the
           date of such deposit or,  insofar  as an  event  of bankruptcy  under
           clause (7) or (8) of "Events  of  Default" above is concerned, at any
           time during the period  ending on the 91st day after the date of such
           deposit;

      o    such  defeasance or covenant  defeasance  must not result in a breach
           or violation  of, or  constitute a default  under,  the  indenture or
           any material agreement or instrument to which  SCI  is  a party or by
           which  it is  bound or cause  the  applicable trustee  or  the  trust
           so  created  to  be  subject  to  the Investment Company Act of 1940,
           as amended;

      o    in the case of defeasance, SCI must deliver to the applicable trustee
           an opinion of counsel  stating  that SCI has  received from, or there
           has been  published  by, the Internal  Revenue  Service a ruling,  or
           since the date hereof,  there has been a change in applicable federal
           income tax law, to the effect,  and  based  thereon such opinion must
           confirm that, the holders of the outstanding debt securities will not
           recognize  income, gain or loss for  federal  income tax  purposes as
           a result of such defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax
           on the same  amounts,  in  the  same  manner and at the same times as
           would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred;

      o    in the case of covenant defeasance,  SCI  must  have delivered to the
           applicable  trustee  an  opinion  of  counsel  to the effect that the
           holders of the debt securities outstanding will not recognize income,
           gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such

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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 27]

           covenant  defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the
           same amounts,  in the same manner and at the same times as would have
           been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred; and

      o    SCI  must  have  delivered  to  the  applicable  trustee an officers'
           certificate  and  an  opinion  of  counsel,   each  stating  that all
           conditions precedent provided for relating  to either  the defeasance
           or the  covenant  defeasance,  as the case may be, have been complied
           with.

         "Foreign  Currency"  means any  currency,  currency  unit or  composite
currency,  including,  without limitation, the euro, issued by the government of
one or more countries other than the United States of America or by any regional
confederation or association of such governments.

         "Government  Obligations"  means debt  securities  which are (1) direct
obligations  of the  United  States  of  America  or  the  other  government  or
governments in the confederation  which issued the Foreign Currency in which the
principal  of or  any  premium  or  interest  on  such  debt  securities  or any
Additional  Amounts in respect thereof shall be payable,  in each case where the
payment or payments  thereunder  are  supported  by the full faith and credit of
such  government or  governments or (2)  obligations  of a Person  controlled or
supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of
America or such other  government or governments,  in each case where the timely
payment or payments  thereunder are  unconditionally  guaranteed as a full faith
and credit  obligation by the United States of America or such other  government
or  governments.  In  either  case,  such  obligations  may not be  callable  or
redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof.  Such obligations may
also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian
with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest
on or  principal  of or  other  amount  with  respect  to  any  such  Government
Obligation  held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository
receipt,  provided  that  (except  as  required  by law) such  custodian  is not
authorized to make any deduction  from the amount  payable to the holder of such
depository  receipt from any amount  received by the custodian in respect of the
Government  Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or
other  amount  with  respect  to the  Government  Obligation  evidenced  by such
depository receipt.

Satisfaction and Discharge

         The  indenture  will  cease  to  be of  further  effect,  except  as to
surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities,
as expressly  provided for in each indenture,  and, upon the request of SCI, the
trustee  under each  indenture,  at the  expense  of SCI,  will  execute  proper
instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of the indenture when:

         (a)      either:

                  (1) all the  debt  securities  theretofore  authenticated  and
delivered  under the  indenture,  other  than  destroyed,  lost or  stolen  debt
securities  that have been replaced or paid and debt  securities  that have been
subject to defeasance as described  under  "Defeasance  or Covenant  Defeasance"
above have been delivered to the trust under the indenture for cancellation; or

                  (2) all debt securities not theretofore delivered to the trust
under the indenture for cancellation:

                           (A)      have become due and payable;

                           (B)      will  become  due  and   payable   at  their
         maturity within one year; or

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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 28]

                           (C) are to be called for  redemption  within one year
         under arrangements  satisfactory to the trustee under the indenture for
         the giving of notice of  redemption  by the trustee under the indenture
         in the name, and at the expense, of SCI;

and SCI has  irrevocably  deposited or caused to be  deposited  with the trustee
under  the  applicable  indenture  funds in trust for the  purpose  in an amount
sufficient to pay and discharge the entire  Indebtedness on such debt securities
not theretofore delivered to the trust under the indenture for cancellation, for
principal, and premium, if any, on, and interest to the date of such deposit, in
the case of debt securities that have become due and payable, or to the maturity
or redemption date, as the case may be;

         (b) SCI has  paid or  caused  to be paid  all sums  payable  under  the
indenture by SCI; and

         (c) SCI has  delivered to the trustee  under the indenture an officers'
certificate  and an  opinion  of  counsel,  each  stating  that  all  conditions
precedent  provided in the indenture  relating to the satisfaction and discharge
of the indenture have been complied with.

Amendments and Waivers

         Modifications  and  amendments of each indenture may be made by SCI and
the  applicable  trustee  with the  consent  of the  holders  of a  majority  in
aggregate  outstanding  principal  amount of the debt  securities of each series
affected by the modification;  provided,  however,  that no such modification or
amendment  may,  without  the  consent  of the holder of each  outstanding  debt
security affected thereby:

         (a) change the  maturity of the  principal  of, or any  installment  of
interest on, any debt  security,  or reduce the principal  amount thereof or the
rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption  thereof, or
change the place of payment  where or change the coin or currency in which,  any
debt security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right
to institute  suit for the  enforcement  of any such payment  after the maturity
thereof, or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date;

         (b) reduce the  percentage  in  principal  amount of  outstanding  debt
securities of any series,  the consent of whose holders is required for any such
amendment or for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of, or certain
defaults and their consequences provided for under the indenture;

         (c) modify any of the provisions of the applicable  indenture  relating
to the  subordination of the debt securities in a manner  materially  adverse to
the holders; or

         (d) waive a default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any,
or interest on the debt  securities of any series or reduce the percentage or of
the aggregate  principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series the
consent of whose  holders is  necessary  for waiver of  compliance  with certain
provisions of the indenture or for waiver of certain defaults.

         The holders of a majority  in  aggregate  principal  amount of the debt
securities  of  any  series   outstanding  may  waive  compliance  with  certain
restrictive  covenants  and  provisions  of the  indenture  with respect to that
series of debt securities.

         Without  the  consent of any  holders,  SCI and the  trustee  under the
indenture,  at any time  and  from  time to  time,  may  enter  into one or more
indentures  supplemental to the indenture  governing the debt securities for any
of the following purposes:

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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 29]

         (a) to  evidence  the  succession  of  another  person  to SCI  and the
assumption by any such successor of the covenants of SCI in the indenture and in
the debt securities;

         (b) to add to the  covenants of SCI for the benefit of the holders,  or
to surrender any right or power conferred upon SCI under the indenture;

         (c)      to add additional Events of Default;

         (d) to provide for uncertificated  debt securities in addition to or in
place of the certificated debt securities;

         (e) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under the
indenture by a successor trustee under the indenture;

         (f)      to secure the debt securities;

         (g) to cure any  ambiguity,  to correct or supplement  any provision in
the indenture that may be defective or inconsistent  with any other provision in
the  indenture,  or to make any other  provisions  with  respect  to  matters or
questions  arising under the indenture,  provided that such actions  pursuant to
this clause do not adversely affect the interests of the holders in any material
respect; or

         (h) to comply with any  requirements  of the SEC in order to effect and
maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

Outstanding Debt Securities

         In determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of
outstanding  debt  securities  have given any  request,  demand,  authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver under the applicable indenture:

      o    the  portion  of the  principal  amount of an original issue discount
           security that shall be deemed to  be  outstanding  for such  purposes
           shall be that portion of the  principal  amount thereof that could be
           declared  to be due and payable  upon a  declaration  of acceleration
           thereof  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  such  original  issue discount
           security as of the date of such determination,

      o    the  principal  amount of any  Indexed  Security  (ie a security  the
           terms of which provide that the principal  amount payable at maturity
           may  be  more  or  less  than  the  principal face amount at original
           issuance),  that shall be deemed to  be  outstanding for such purpose
           shall  be  the  principal  face   amount  of  such  Indexed  Security
           determined  on the  date  of  its  original issuance, and

      o    any debt  security  owned by SCI or any obligor on such debt security
           or any  Affiliate of SCI or such other obligor shall be deemed not to
           be outstanding.

Governing Law

         The  indentures  and the  debt  securities  will be  governed  by,  and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

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Regarding the Trustees

         The  Trust  Indenture  Act  contains  limitations  on the  rights  of a
trustee,  should it become a  creditor  of SCI,  to obtain  payment of claims in
certain cases or to realize on certain property received by it in respect of any
such claims,  as security or  otherwise.  Each trustee is permitted to engage in
other  transactions  with SCI and its subsidiaries  from time to time,  provided
that if the trustee  acquires any  conflicting  interest it must  eliminate such
conflict  upon the  occurrence  of an  Event of  Default  under  the  applicable
indenture, or else resign.


                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

         Our  authorized  capital stock consists of  200,500,000  shares.  Those
shares consist of (1) 200,000,000  shares designated as common stock,  $0.10 par
value per share and (2) 500,000  shares  designated as preferred  stock,  no par
value per share. The only equity securities currently  outstanding are shares of
common stock.  As of January 17, 2000,  there were  72,372,137  shares of common
stock issued and outstanding.

Common Stock

         Our  common  stock is listed on the New York Stock  Exchange  under the
symbol "SCI." Holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends declared
by the Board of  Directors,  out of funds  legally  available for the payment of
dividends,  subject to the rights of holders of  preferred  stock and subject to
certain financial covenants contained in our loan agreements.  Currently, we are
not paying a dividend.  Each holder of common  stock is entitled to one vote per
share.  Stockholders do not have  cumulative  voting rights which means that the
holders of a majority of the shares  voting for the  election of  directors  can
elect all the  directors  then  standing  for  election.  Upon any  liquidation,
dissolution  or  winding up of our  business,  the  holders of common  stock are
entitled to share equally in all assets available for distribution after payment
of all  liabilities  and  provision  for  liquidation  preference  of  shares of
preferred stock then outstanding. The holders of common stock have no preemptive
rights and no rights to convert  their common  stock into any other  securities.
There are also no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common
stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.

Preferred Stock

         The following description of preferred stock and the description of the
terms of a particular  series of  preferred  stock that will be set forth in the
related prospectus supplement are not complete. These descriptions are qualified
in their entirety by reference to the  certificate  of  designation  relating to
that  series.  The  rights,  preferences,  privileges  and  restrictions  of the
preferred  stock of each series will be fixed by the  certificate of designation
relating  to  that  series.  The  prospectus  supplement  also  will  contain  a
description of certain United States federal income tax consequences relating to
the purchase and ownership of the series of preferred stock that is described in
the prospectus supplement.

         Each holder of preferred  stock is entitled to one vote per share.  The
Board  of  Directors  has  the   authority,   without   further  action  by  the
stockholders,  to issue up to 500,000  shares of preferred  stock in one or more
series  and to fix the  following  terms of the  preferred  stock  which will be
specified  in the  prospectus  supplement  relating to  preferred  stock.  As of
January 24, 2000, there were no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

         The prospectus supplement will specify as to each issuance of preferred
stock:

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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 31]


      o    the maximum number of shares,

      o    the designation of the shares,

      o    the annual dividend rate, if any, whether the dividend rate is  fixed
           or  variable,  the date dividends will accrue, the dividend   payment
           dates  and  whether   dividends   will  be cumulative,

      o    the price  and  the  terms  and  conditions  for  redemption, if any,
           including  redemption  at our option or at the option of the holders,
           including  the  time  period  for  redemption,  and  any  accumulated
           dividends or premiums,

      o    the liquidation preference,  if any, and  any  accumulated  dividends
           upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of SCI's affairs,

      o    any sinking  fund  or  similar  provision,  and, if so, the terms and
           provisions relating to the purpose and operation of the fund,

      o    the terms  and  conditions,   if any,  for  conversion or exchange of
           shares  into or for any  other class or classes  of our capital stock
           or any series of any other class or classes, or into or for any other
           series  of  the  same  class,  or  any  other securities  or  assets,
           including the price or the rate of conversion  or  exchange  and  the
           method,  if any, of adjustment, and

      o    any or all  other  preferences and relative,  participating, optional
           or   other    special    rights,    privileges   or   qualifications,
           limitations or restrictions.

         Preferred stock will be fully paid and nonassessable upon issuance. The
preferred stock or any series of preferred stock may be represented, in whole or
in part, by one or more global  certificates,  which will represent an aggregate
number of shares equal to that of the preferred stock  represented by the global
certificate.

         Each global certificate will:

      o    be registered  in  the  name  of  a  depositary  or  a nominee of the
           depositary identified in the prospectus supplement,

      o    be deposited  with  such depositary or nominee or a custodian for the
           depositary, and

      o    bear  a  legend  regarding   any   restrictions   on  exchanges   and
           registration  of  transfer  and any  other matters as may be provided
           for under the certificate of designation.


                        DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

General

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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 32]

         SCI may elect to offer depositary shares,  each representing a fraction
(to be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of
shares  of  preferred  stock)  of a share of a  particular  series  of shares of
preferred stock as described below. In the event SCI elects to do so, depositary
receipts evidencing depositary shares will be issued to the public.

         The  shares  of any  class or  series  of  shares  of  preferred  stock
represented  by depositary  shares will be deposited  under a deposit  agreement
among SCI,  a  depositary  selected  by SCI and the  holders  of the  depositary
receipts.  The  depositary  will be a bank or trust company having its principal
office in the United  States and having a  combined  capital  and  surplus of at
least $50,000,000.  Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of
a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of
a preferred share  represented by such  depositary  share, to all the rights and
preferences  of the shares of preferred  stock  represented  thereby  (including
dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights).

         The depositary  shares will be evidenced by depositary  receipts issued
pursuant to the deposit  agreement.  Depositary  receipts will be distributed to
those persons purchasing the fractional shares of the related class or series of
shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering described
in the related prospectus  supplement.  Copies of the forms of deposit agreement
and depositary receipt will be filed as exhibits to or incorporated by reference
in the  registration  statement of which this  prospectus  forms a part, and the
following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibits.

         Pending  the  preparation  of  definitive   depositary  receipts,   the
depositary  may,  upon the  written  order of SCI,  issue  temporary  depositary
receipts  substantially  identical to (and entitling the holders  thereof to all
the  rights  pertaining  to)  the  definitive  depositary  receipts  but  not in
definitive  form.  Definitive  depositary  receipts will be prepared  thereafter
without   unreasonable   delay,  and  temporary   depositary  receipts  will  be
exchangeable  for definitive  depositary  receipts  without charge to the holder
thereof.

Dividends and Other Distributions

         The   depositary   will   distribute   all  cash   dividends  or  other
distributions  received in respect of the  related  class or series of shares of
preferred  stock to the record  holders of  depositary  shares  relating to such
class or series of shares of preferred stock in proportion to the number of such
depositary shares owned by such holders.

         In the event of a distribution  other than in cash, the depositary will
distribute  property  received by it to the record holders of depositary  shares
entitled  thereto,  unless the depositary  determines that it is not feasible to
make such  distribution,  in which case the depositary may, with the approval of
SCI, sell such property and  distribute  the net proceeds from such sale to such
holders.

Withdrawal of Shares

         Upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office
of the depositary  (unless the related  depositary  shares have  previously been
called for redemption), the holder of the depositary shares evidenced thereby is
entitled  to  delivery  of the number of whole  shares of the  related  class or
series of shares of preferred stock and any money or other property  represented
by such  depositary  shares.  Holders of  depositary  shares will be entitled to
receive whole shares of the related class or series of shares of preferred stock
on the basis set forth in the prospectus  supplement for such class or series of
shares of preferred  stock,  but holders of such whole shares of preferred stock
will not thereafter be entitled to exchange them for depositary  shares.  If the
depositary  receipts  delivered  by the holder

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<PAGE>

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evidence a number of  depositary  shares in excess of the  number of  depositary
shares  representing  the  number  of  whole  shares  of  preferred  stock to be
withdrawn,  the  depositary  will  deliver to such holder at the same time a new
depositary  receipt  evidencing such excess number of depositary  shares.  In no
event will  fractional  shares of preferred stock be delivered upon surrender of
depositary receipts to the depositary.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

         Whenever SCI redeems shares of preferred  stock held by the depositary,
the  depositary  will  redeem  as of the  same  redemption  date the  number  of
depositary shares  representing  shares of the related class or series of shares
of preferred stock so redeemed.  The redemption  price per depositary share will
be equal to the applicable  fraction of the  redemption  price per share payable
with respect to such class or series of shares of preferred  stock. If less than
all the  depositary  shares  are to be  redeemed,  the  depositary  shares to be
redeemed  will  be  selected  by lot or pro  rata  as may be  determined  by the
depositary.

Voting the Shares of Preferred Stock

         Upon  receipt  of notice of any  meeting  at which the  holders  of the
shares of preferred  stock are entitled to vote,  the  depositary  will mail the
information  contained  in such  notice of meeting to the record  holders of the
depositary shares relating to such shares of preferred stock. Each record holder
of such depositary shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the
record date for the shares of preferred  stock) will be entitled to instruct the
depositary as to the exercise of the voting  rights  pertaining to the amount of
the class or series of shares of preferred  stock  represented  by such holder's
depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote
the number of shares of preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in
accordance with such  instructions,  and SCI will agree to take all action which
the depositary  deems  necessary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The
depositary  will abstain from voting shares of preferred  stock to the extent it
does not receive  specific  instructions  from the holders of depositary  shares
representing such shares of preferred stock.

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

         The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any
provision  of the  deposit  agreement  may at any time be amended  by  agreement
between SCI and the  depositary.  However,  any amendment  which  materially and
adversely  alters the rights of the holders of  depositary  receipts will not be
effective  unless such  amendment has been approved by the holders of depositary
receipts  representing  at  least a  majority  (or,  in the  case of  amendments
relating to or affecting rights to receive  dividends or distributions or voting
or redemption  rights,  66%, unless otherwise provided in the related prospectus
supplement) of the depositary shares then outstanding. The deposit agreement may
be terminated by SCI or the depositary  only (1) if all  outstanding  depositary
shares have been redeemed, (2) if there has been a final distribution in respect
of the related class or series of shares of preferred  stock in connection  with
any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of SCI and such distribution has been
distributed  to the  holders of  depositary  receipts or (3) upon the consent of
holders of depositary receipts  representing not less than 66% of the depositary
shares outstanding.

Charges of Depositary

         SCI will pay all  transfer  and other  taxes and  governmental  charges
arising solely from the existence of the depositary  arrangements.  SCI will pay
charges of the depositary in connection  with the initial deposit of the related
class or series of shares of preferred  stock and any  redemption of such shares
of preferred stock.  Holders of depositary  receipts will pay all other transfer
and other taxes and

[END OF PAGE 33]
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governmental  charges and such other  charges as are  expressly  provided in the
deposit agreement to be for their accounts.

         The  depositary  may  refuse to effect  any  transfer  of a  depositary
receipt  or any  withdrawal  of shares of a class or series of  preferred  stock
evidenced  thereby  until all taxes and charges with  respect to the  depositary
receipt or shares of preferred stock are paid by the holders thereof.

Miscellaneous

         The  depositary  will forward all reports and  communications  from SCI
which are  delivered to the  depositary  and which SCI is required to furnish to
the holders of the shares of preferred stock.

         Neither the  depositary  nor SCI will be liable if it is  prevented  or
delayed  by law  or any  circumstance  beyond  its  control  in  performing  its
obligations  under  the  deposit  agreement.  The  obligations  of SCI  and  the
depositary  under the deposit  agreement  will be limited to performance in good
faith of their duties  thereunder,  and neither SCI nor the  depositary  will be
obligated  to  prosecute  or  defend  any legal  proceeding  in  respect  of any
depositary  shares  or class or  series of  shares  of  preferred  stock  unless
satisfactory indemnity is furnished.  SCI and the depositary may rely on written
advice of counsel or accountants,  or information provided by persons presenting
shares of preferred  stock for deposit,  holders of  depositary  shares or other
persons believed to be competent and on the documents believed to be genuine.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

         The  depositary  may resign at any time by  delivering to SCI notice of
its election to do so, and SCI may at any time remove the  depositary.  Any such
resignation or removal of the depositary  will take effect upon the  appointment
of a successor  depositary,  which  successor  must be appointed  within 60 days
after  delivery  of the notice of  resignation  or removal and must be a bank or
trust  company  having its  principal  office in the United  States and having a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.


                             DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

         SCI has no warrants  outstanding  (other than options  issued under its
employee  stock option  plans).  SCI may issue warrants for the purchase of debt
securities,   common   stock  or  preferred   stock.   Warrants  may  be  issued
independently  or together with any other  securities  offered by any prospectus
supplement and may be attached to or separate from such securities.  Each series
of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into
between  SCI  and  a  warrant  agent  specified  in  the  applicable  prospectus
supplement.  The warrant  agent will act solely as an agent of SCI in connection
with the  warrants  of such  series  and  will  not  assume  any  obligation  or
relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of the warrants. Further
terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreements will be set forth in
the applicable  prospectus  supplement.  Copies of the form of warrant agreement
and warrant  will be filed as exhibits to or  incorporated  by  reference in the
registration  statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and the following
summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibits.

         The  applicable  prospectus  supplement  will describe the terms of the
warrants, including, where applicable, the following:

      o    the title of the warrants,

[END OF PAGE 34]
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[BEGINNING OF PAGE 35]

      o    the aggregate number of warrants,

      o    the price or prices at which warrants will be issued,

      o    the designation,  terms  and  number of securities  purchasable  upon
           exercise of warrants,

      o    the designation  and  terms  of  the securities,  if any,  with which
           warrants  are  issued  and  the  number of warrants  issued with each
           security,

      o    the date,  if any,  on  and  after  which  warrants  and  the related
           securities will be separately transferable,

      o    the price  at  which  each  security  purchasable  upon  exercise  of
           warrants may be purchased,

      o    the date on which the right to exercise  the warrants  shall commence
           and the date on which that right shall expire,

      o    the minimum  or  maximum amount of warrants which may be exercised at
           any one time,

      o    information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any, and

      o    any other terms  of the  warrants,  including terms, procedures   and
           limitations  relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         We  may  offer  and  sell  the  securities  directly  or to or  through
underwriting  syndicates  represented  by managing  underwriters,  to or through
underwriters  without a syndicate or through  dealers or agents.  The prospectus
supplement  with respect to the offered  securities  will set forth the terms of
the offering, including the following:

      o    the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents,

      o    the purchase price and the proceeds we will receive from the sale,

      o    any underwriting discounts,  agency fees and other items constituting
           underwriters' or agents' compensation, and

      o    the initial  public  offering  price and any discounts or concessions
           allowed, re-allowed or paid to dealers.

         If any  underwriters are involved in the offer and sale, the securities
will be  acquired  by the  underwriters  and may be resold by them,  either at a
fixed public offering price  established at the time of offering or from time to
time in one or more negotiated  transactions or otherwise,  at prices related to
prevailing  market prices  determined at the time of sale.  Unless otherwise set
forth  in  the  applicable

[END OF PAGE 35]
<PAGE>

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prospectus  supplement,  the  obligations  of the  underwriters  to purchase the
securities will be subject to conditions  precedent and the underwriters will be
obligated to purchase all the securities described in the prospectus  supplement
if any are  purchased.  Any initial  public  offering price and any discounts or
concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to
time.

         We may offer and sell the  securities  directly  or through an agent or
agents  designated by us from time to time. An agent may sell  securities it has
purchased  from us as  principal to other  dealers for resale to  investors  and
other purchasers, and may reallow all or any portion of the discount received in
connection with the purchase from us to the dealers.  After the initial offering
of the securities, the offering price (in the case of securities to be resold at
a fixed offering  price),  the  concession and the discount may be changed.  Any
agent participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be an
"underwriter,"  as that term is defined in the  Securities  Act of 1933,  of the
securities so offered and sold.

         If any  underwriters  are involved in the offer and sale,  they will be
permitted to engage in transactions  that maintain or otherwise affect the price
of the securities.  These transactions may include over-allotment  transactions,
purchases to cover short positions created by the underwriter in connection with
the offering and the  imposition of penalty bids.  If an  underwriter  creates a
short  position in the securities in connection  with the offering,  i.e., if it
sells  more  securities  than set  forth  on the  cover  page of the  applicable
prospectus  supplement,  the  underwriter  may  reduce  that short  position  by
purchasing  the  securities  in the open  market.  In  general,  purchases  of a
security to reduce a short  position could cause the price of the security to be
higher  than it might  be in the  absence  of such  purchases.  As noted  above,
underwriters may also choose to impose penalty bids on other underwriters and/or
selling group members.  This means that if underwriters  purchase  securities on
the open market to reduce their short  position or to stabilize the price of the
securities,  they may reclaim the amount of the  selling  concession  from those
underwriters  and/or  selling group members who sold such  securities as part of
the offering.

         Neither we nor any underwriter make any representation or prediction as
to the  direction  or magnitude  of any effect that the  transactions  described
above may have on the price of the securities.  In addition,  neither we nor any
underwriter  make any  representation  that such underwriter will engage in such
transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued
without notice.

         Underwriters,  dealers  and agents may be  entitled,  under  agreements
entered  into  with us,  to  indemnification  by us  against  some  liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

         The place and time of delivery for the  securities  in respect of which
this  prospectus  is delivered  will be set forth in the  applicable  prospectus
supplement if appropriate.

         Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, each series of
offered  securities will be a new issue of securities and, other than the common
stock,  which is listed on the NYSE, for which there currently is no market. Any
underwriters to whom securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a
market  in such  series  of  securities  as  permitted  by  applicable  laws and
regulations,  but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so, and any such
market making may be discontinued at any time without notice. Accordingly, there
can be no  assurance  as to the  development  or liquidity of any market for the
securities.  The  securities  may or may not be listed on a national  securities
exchange or for quotation through the National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotation System.

         Underwriters,  agents and  dealers may engage in  transactions  with or
perform services,  including various investment banking and other services,  for
us and/or any of our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

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                                  LEGAL MATTERS

         Michael M. Sullivan,  Esq., our Secretary and Corporate  Counsel,  will
issue an opinion for us with respect to the validity of the  securities  offered
hereby.  Any  underwriters,  dealers  or agents  will be  advised  about  issues
relating to this offering by their own legal counsel.


                                     EXPERTS

         Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors,  have audited our consolidated
financial statements included in  our  Annual  Report on  Form 10-K for the year
ended June 30, 1999,  as set forth in their report,  which  is  incorporated  by
reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in  the  registration  statement. Our
financial  statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young
LLP's report,  given  on the  authority  of that firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.


                    WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

         We file annual,  quarterly and special  reports,  proxy  statements and
other  information  with the SEC.  Those  reports,  proxy  statements  and other
information may be obtained:

      o    At the Public Reference Room of the SEC,  Room  1024-Judiciary Plaza,
           450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,

      o    At the  public  reference  facilities  at the  SEC's regional offices
           located at Seven World Trade Center,  13th Floor,  New York, New York
           10048 or Northwestern  Atrium Center,  500 West Madison Street, Suite
           1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661,

      o    From the SEC,  Public Reference Section,  Judiciary Plaza,  450 Fifth
           Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,

      o    At the offices of The New York Stock Exchange,  20 Broad Street,  New
           York, New York 10005 and

      o    From the Internet site maintained by the SEC at   http://www.sec.gov,
           which   contains   reports,   proxy  and  information  statements and
           other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the
           SEC.

         Some locations may charge prescribed or modest fees for copies.


                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file
with them,  which means that we can  disclose  important  information  to you by
referring you to those documents.  The information  incorporated by reference is
an important part of this  prospectus,  and information  that we file later with
the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate
by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC
under Sections 13(a),  13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
until  we sell  all of the  securities,  or  after  the  date  of  this  initial
registration   statement  and  before  the  effectiveness  of  the  registration
statement.

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<PAGE>

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      o    Annual  Report  on  Form 10-K  for  the  year  ended   June 30,  1999
           (including  information  specifically  incorporated by reference into
           our Form 10-K from our definitive Proxy Statement for our 1999 Annual
           Meeting of Stockholders).

      o    Quarterly  Report  on  Form  10-Q for the quarter ended September 26,
           1999.

      o    The  description  of  SCI's  common  stock  contained  in SCI's
                  registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on March
                  18, 1997.

         On request we will  provide at no cost to each  person,  including  any
beneficial  owner, who receives a copy of this prospectus,  a copy of any or all
of the documents  incorporated  in this  prospectus  by  reference.  We will not
provide  exhibits to any of such  documents,  however,  unless such exhibits are
specifically  incorporated  by  reference  into  those  documents.   Written  or
telephone requests for such copies should be addressed to our Treasurer,  Ronald
G. Sibold, c/o SCI Systems (Alabama) Inc., P. O. Box 1000,  Huntsville,  Alabama
35807, telephone number (256) 882-4131.

[END OF PAGE 38]
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                                  $800,000,000





                                SCI SYSTEMS, INC.





                 DEBT SECURITIES, PREFERRED STOCK, COMMON STOCK,
                         DEPOSITARY SHARES AND WARRANTS







                          ----------------------------

                                   PROSPECTUS

                          ----------------------------









                                            , 2000



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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 40]
                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS


ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

         Set forth below is an estimate (other than the SEC Registration Fee) of
the fees and expenses all of which are payable by the Registrant,  in connection
with the registration and sale of the securities being registered:

Commission Registration Fee................................       $  211,200
Trustee's Fees and Expenses................................                *
Rating Agencies' Fees......................................                *
Transfer Agent and Registrar Fees and Expenses.............                *
Legal Fees and Expenses....................................                *
Accounting Fees and Expenses...............................                *
Printing, Engraving and Mailing Expenses...................                *
Miscellaneous..............................................                *
Total......................................................       $        *
                                                                  ----------
   *To be supplied by amendment.

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         As  authorized  by Section  145 of the General  Corporation  Law of the
State of Delaware  ("DGCL"),  each director and officer of the Registrant may be
indemnified by the Registrant  against  expenses  (including  attorney's  fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred
in  connection  with the defense or  settlement  of any  threatened,  pending or
completed  legal  proceedings in which he is involved by reason of the fact that
he is or was a director or officer of the  Registrant  if he acted in good faith
and in a manner that he reasonably  believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests  of the  Registrant  and,  with  respect  to any  criminal  action  or
proceeding,  if he had no  reasonable  cause to  believe  that his  conduct  was
unlawful.  If  the  legal  proceeding,  however,  is by or in the  right  of the
Registrant,  the  director or officer may not be  indemnified  in respect of any
claim,  issue or matter as to which he shall have been  adjudged to be liable to
the Registrant unless a court determines otherwise.

         Article Tenth of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides
for  mandatory  indemnification  of the  Registrant's  directors,  officers  and
employees and the Registrant's Bylaws provide for permissible indemnification of
other agents to the maximum  extent  permitted by the DGCL.  The  Registrant has
entered into  Indemnification  Agreements  with its officers and directors  with
further indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by the DGCL.

         The general  effect of the  foregoing  provisions  may be to reduce the
circumstances  in which an  officer  or  director  may be  required  to bear the
economic burden of the foregoing liabilities and expense.

         The form(s) of proposed  Underwriting  Agreement(s) to be filed as (an)
Exhibit(s)  hereto or  incorporated by reference  herein may include  provisions
regarding  the  indemnification  of our  officers  and  directors by the several
Underwriters.

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ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

         (a) Exhibits:

Exhibit
Number                   Description
- -------                  -----------
1.1               Form of Underwriting Agreement*.
4.1               Certificate of Incorporation*.
4.2               Form of Senior Indenture*.
4.3               Form of Subordinated Indenture*.
4.4               Form of Senior Debt Security**.
4.5               Form of Subordinated Debt Security**.
4.6               Form of Convertible Debt Security**.
4.7               Form of Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation**.
4.8               Form of Warrant**.
4.9               Form of Warrant Agreement*.
4.10              Form of Deposit Agreement*.
5.1               Opinion of Michael M. Sullivan*.
12.1              Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
23.1              Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP.
23.2              Consent of Michael M. Sullivan (included in Exhibit 5.1)*.
24.1              Power of Attorney of certain directors and officers of SCI
                  (set forth on the signature page of this registration
                  statement).
25.1              Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Senior
                  Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939**.
25.2              Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Subordinated
                  Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939**.
- ---------------
*To be filed with a Pre-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement.
**To be filed with a Current Report on Form 8-K or a Post-Effective Amendment to
Registration Statement.


ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

1.                To file,  during any period in which offers or sales are being
                  made,  a   post-effective   amendment  to  this   Registration
                  Statement:

                  (a)      To include  any  prospectus  required  by  Section 10
                           (a)(3) of the Securities Act,

                  (b)      To reflect  in  the  prospectus  any  facts or events
                           arising  after the effective date of the Registration
                           Statement   ( or  the  most   recent   post-effective
                           amendment  thereof)  which,  individually  or  in the
                           aggregate,  represent  a  fundamental  change  in the
                           information  set forth in the Registration Statement.
                           Notwithstanding  the   foregoing,   any  increase  or
                           decrease  in  volume  of  securities  offered (if the
                           total dollar value of securities  offered  would  not
                           exceed  that  which was registered) and any deviation
                           from  the  low  or  high end of the estimated maximum
                           offering  range  may  be  reflected  in  the  form of
                           prospectus filed with the Commission

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                           pursuant  to  Rule 424(b) if,  in the aggregate,  the
                           changes in  volume and price represent no more than a
                           20 percent change in  the  maximum aggregate offering
                           price set forth in the "Calculation  of  Registration
                           Fee" table in the effective Registration Statement,

                  (c)      To include any material  information  with respect to
                           the plan of distribution not previously  disclosed in
                           the Registration  Statement or any material change to
                           such  information  in  the  Registration   Statement,
                           provided,  however,  that  clauses (a) and (b) do not
                           apply if the information required to be included in a
                           post-effective amendment by such clauses is contained
                           in periodic  reports  filed with or  furnished to the
                           Securities and Exchange  Commission by the Registrant
                           pursuant  to  Section  13 or  Section  15(d)  of  the
                           Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")
                           that   are   incorporated   by   reference   in   the
                           Registration Statement.

2.                That, for the purpose of determining  any liability  under the
                  Securities  Act, each such  post-effective  amendment shall be
                  deemed a new Registration Statement relating to the securities
                  offered  therein,  and the offering of such securities at that
                  time  shall be deemed  to be the  initial  bona fide  offering
                  thereof.

3.                To  remove  from  registration  by means  of a  post-effective
                  amendment any of the securities  being registered which remain
                  unsold at the termination of the offering.

4.                That,  for purposes of  determining  any  liability  under the
                  Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant's  annual report
                  pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
                  that  is  incorporated  by  reference  in  this   Registration
                  Statement shall be deemed to be a new  registration  statement
                  relating to the securities  offered therein,  and the offering
                  of such  securities  at that  time  shall be  deemed to be the
                  initial bona fide offering thereof.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be  permitted to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons of the
Registrant pursuant to its Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, by agreement or
otherwise,  the  Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such
indemnification  is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event  that a claim for  indemnification
against such  liabilities  (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director,  officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as  expressed  in the  Securities  Act and will be  governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:

1.                For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
                  Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed
                  as part of this  Registration  Statement  in  reliance on Rule
                  430A  and  contained  in a form  of  prospectus  filed  by the
                  Registrant  pursuant to Rule  424(b)(1)  or (4) or Rule 497(h)
                  under  the  Securities  Act shall be deemed to be part of this
                  Registration   Statement  as  of  the  time  it  was  declared
                  effective; and
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<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 43]

2.                For  the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under  the
                  Securities Act, each post-effective  amendment that contains a
                  form of  prospectus  shall be deemed to be a new  registration
                  statement relating to the securities offered therein,  and the
                  offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
                  the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for
the  purpose  of  determining  the  eligibility  of the  trustee  to  act  under
subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust  Indenture Act in accordance with the
rules and regulations  prescribed by the Commission  under Section  305(b)(2) of
the Act.

[END OF PAGE 43]
<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 44]

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act, the  Registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-3 and has  duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in Huntsville, Alabama on January 24, 2000.

                             SCI SYSTEMS, INC.
                             By:    /s/  A. Eugene Sapp, Jr.
                                   Name: A. Eugene Sapp, Jr.
                                   Title:  President and Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS that each individual whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints James E. Moylan, Jr. and Michael M. Sullivan, and
each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with the
power of substitution,  for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities,  to sign the  Registration  Statement filed herewith and any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement,
and to sign any  registration  statement for the same  offering  covered by this
Registration  Statement  that is to be  effective  upon filing  pursuant to Rule
462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act, and all  post-effective  amendments
thereto,  and to file the same,  with all exhibits  thereto and all documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing  requisite  and necessary to be done
in and about the foregoing,  as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could  do  in  person,   hereby   ratifying   and   confirming   all  that  said
attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  or any of them,  or his or their  substitute  or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                             ----------------------

         Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Act, as amended,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities indicated on January 24, 2000.

      Signature                                   Title
      ---------                                   -----

/s/ A. Eugene Sapp, Jr.          President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
A. Eugene Sapp, Jr.              (Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ James E. Moylan, Jr.         Senior Vice President and
James E. Moylan, Jr.             Chief Financial Officer
                                 (Principal Financial Officer)


/s/ John M. Noll.                Assistant Vice President and
John M. Noll.                    Corporate Controller
                                 (Principal Accounting Officer)

[END OF PAGE 44]
<PAGE>

[[BEGINING OF PAGE 45]


/s/ Olin B. King                 Chairman and Director
Olin B. King

/s/ Howard H. Callaway           Director
Howard H. Callaway

/s/ William E. Fruhan            Director
William E. Fruhan

/s/  Wayne Shortridge            Director
Wayne Shortridge

/s/ G. Robert Todd               Director
G. Robert Todd

/s/  Jackie M. Ward              Director
Jackie M. Ward


[END OF PAGE 45]
<PAGE>

[BEGINNING OF PAGE 46]

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
Number                   Description

1.1               Form of Underwriting Agreement*.
4.1               Certificate of Incorporation*.
4.2               Form of Senior Indenture*.
4.3               Form of Subordinated Indenture*.
4.4               Form of Senior Debt Security**.
4.5               Form of Subordinated Debt Security**.
4.6               Form of Convertible Debt Security**.
4.7               Form of Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation**.
4.8               Form of Warrant**.
4.9               Form of Warrant Agreement*.
4.10              Form of Deposit Agreement*.
5.1               Opinion of Michael M. Sullivan*.
12.1              Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
23.1              Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP.
23.2              Consent of Michael M. Sullivan (included in Exhibit 5.1)*.
24.1              Power of Attorney of certain directors and officers of SCI
                  (set forth on the signature page of this registration
                  statement).
25.1              Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Senior
                  Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939**.
25.2              Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Subordinated
                  Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939**.
- ---------------
*To be filed with a Pre-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement.
**To be filed with a Current Report on Form 8-K or a Post-Effective Amendment to
Registration Statement.

[END OF PAGE 46]



                                  EXHIBIT 12.1
                COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                    (dollars in thousands, except Ratio Data)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           Three Months Ended
                                            Year Ended June 30,                      September 27,    September 26,
                            ----------------------------------------------------     ------------------------------
<S>                         <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>              <C>              <C>
                               1995      1996      1997      1998      1999             1998             1999
Income before income
taxes                       $ 75,661  $136,058  $189,434  $235,911  $217,083         $ 47,571         $ 60,718

Plus fixed charges:
  Interest and debt
  amortization expenses       18,400    25,907    30,574    30,651    24,079            7,029            3,906
                            --------  --------  --------  --------  --------         --------         --------

Income before income
  taxes and interest and
  debt amortization
  expenses                  $ 94,061  $161,965  $220,008  $266,562  $241,162        $  54,600         $ 64,624
                            ========  ========  ========  ========  ========        =========         ========

Ratio of earnings to
  charges (1)                  5.11x     6.25x     7.20x     8.70x    10.02x            7.77x           16.54x

</TABLE>




(1)    Ratio of earnings  to fixed  charges was  calculated  by dividing  income
       before  income  taxes and  interest  and debt  amortization  expenses  by
       interest and debt amortization expenses.


EXHIBIT 23.1
                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We  consent to the  reference  to our firm under the  caption  "Experts"  in the
Registration  Statement (Form S-3 No.33-) and related Prospectus of SCI Systems,
Inc. for the  registration of debt securities,  preferred  stock,  common stock,
depository  shares and warrants and to the incorporation by reference therein of
our  report  dated August 5, 1999,  with respect to the  consolidated  financial
statements of SCI Systems, Inc. included  in  its  Annual  Report (Form 10-K)for
the year ended June 30,1999, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                                           /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Birmingham, Alabama
January 21, 2000



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