AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES INC
10-K, 1997-03-28
PERSONAL CREDIT INSTITUTIONS
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<PAGE>   1
 
================================================================================
 
                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                   FORM 10-K
(MARK ONE)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
    OF 1934
 
                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
                                       OR
 
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
    ACT OF 1934
 
     (THE REGISTRANT MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTION
J(1)(a) AND (b) OF FORM 10-K AND IS THEREFORE FILING THIS FORM WITH THE REDUCED
DISCLOSURE FORMAT.)
 
                           COMMISSION FILE NO. 0-6119
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
                   DELAWARE                                      13-2530491
        (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                       (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
        INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                       IDENTIFICATION NO.)
 
  600 ANTON BLVD., P.O. BOX 5011, COSTA MESA,
                   CALIFORNIA                                    92628-5011
   (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                      (ZIP CODE)
</TABLE>
 
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE:  714-435-1200
 
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:  NONE
 
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:  NONE
 
     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  X   No  
                                              ---     ---

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K.  [ ]  Not applicable.
 
     Aggregate market value of common stock:  Not applicable.
 
     At December 31, 1996, the Registrant had 500,000 shares of common stock ($1
par value per share) outstanding, all of which are owned by Textron Inc.
 
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
 
                                     PART I
 
ITEM 1.  BUSINESS
 
GENERAL
 
     Avco Financial Services, Inc., which was organized under the laws of
Delaware on July 17, 1964, is the successor to the finance businesses of
Seaboard Finance Company, originally established in 1927, and Delta Acceptance
Corporation Limited, originally established in 1954. Unless the context
otherwise requires, the term "Registrant" or "AFS" herein refers to Avco
Financial Services, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
 
     All of the Registrant's outstanding common stock is owned by Textron Inc.
 
     The Registrant is principally engaged in consumer finance and insurance
activities. The Registrant's finance operations mainly involve loans made by the
Avco Financial Services Group. Such loans consist primarily of consumer loans
which are unsecured or secured by personal property and are in relatively small
amounts and for relatively short periods; real estate loans which are secured by
real property in larger amounts and for considerably longer periods; and retail
installment contracts, principally covering personal property. As of December
31, 1996, the Registrant operated 1,235 finance offices located in all states of
the United States (except Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Vermont),
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, all Canadian provinces and
the Yukon Territory, six Australian states and the Australian Capital Territory,
Hong Kong, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom. The Registrant's insurance
business consists primarily of the sale of credit life, credit disability and
casualty insurance offered by various subsidiaries (Avco Insurance Services
Group), a significant part of which is directly related to the Registrant's
finance activities.
 
     For a summary of revenues, income before income taxes, and identifiable
assets by industry segment, see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements
of the Registrant.
 
     At December 31, 1996, the Registrant employed approximately 7,600 persons.
 
AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP
 
  Finance Receivables
 
     The Registrant's finance receivable portfolio consisted of the
following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            December 31,
                                      ---------------------------------------------------------
                                        1996        1995        1994        1993        1992
                                      ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                        (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                   <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Consumer loans....................... $3,206,062  $3,021,227  $2,721,905  $2,389,994  $2,275,016
Real estate loans....................  2,546,850   2,512,619   2,415,621   2,260,815   2,141,900
Retail installment contracts.........  1,209,330   1,135,830   1,107,282     741,998     656,668
Other loans..........................    291,496     263,850      91,560      76,756      84,721
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
     Total........................... $7,253,738  $6,933,526  $6,336,368  $5,469,563  $5,158,305
                                      ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========
</TABLE>
 
     The following table presents the Registrant's outstanding finance
receivables by country:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            December 31,
                                      ---------------------------------------------------------
                                        1996        1995        1994        1993        1992
                                      ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                        (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                   <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Australia............................ $1,053,187  $1,009,345  $ 611,087   $ 489,034   $ 455,771
Canada...............................  1,021,272     967,809     908,339     874,277     835,942
United Kingdom.......................    684,638     607,986     587,972     467,363     434,498
United States........................  4,146,057   4,115,141   4,140,094   3,638,889   3,432,094
Other Countries*.....................    348,584     233,245      88,876
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
     Total........................... $7,253,738  $6,933,526  $6,336,368  $5,469,563  $5,158,305
                                      ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
* Includes the operations of Hong Kong, New Zealand and Spain.
 
                                        1
<PAGE>   3
 
     At December 31, 1996, finance receivables in the United States represented
57% of the Registrant's total finance receivables outstanding. At such date,
receivables outstanding in no state exceeded 8% of the United States' portfolio,
except California in which outstanding receivables represented 17% of the United
States' portfolio and 9% of the consolidated portfolio.
 
     Receivable growth in international operations is affected by fluctuations
in foreign currency exchange rates. Increases (decreases) in receivable growth
due to foreign currency translation for the five years ended December 31, 1996
were (in millions): $130.1 in 1996, $(1.1) in 1995, $47.5 in 1994, $(48.2) in
1993, and $(211.2) in 1992.
 
  Consumer Loans and Real Estate Loans
 
     The Registrant's consumer lending activities involve secured and unsecured
installment loans to individuals. After repaying portions of their consumer
loans, many customers take out new loans in amounts sufficient to pay off the
balance of the existing loans and to supply additional needed money. Of the
aggregate of 839,648 consumer and real estate loans written during the year
ended December 31, 1996, approximately 48% included advances to refinance
outstanding balances.
 
     The Registrant's real estate loans consist primarily of loans made to
individuals which are secured by first or second mortgages on single family
homes.
 
     A summary of the Registrant's consumer and real estate loan accounts
written (excluding both refinanced balances and receivables acquired from other
finance companies) and outstanding is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        Year ended December 31,
                                       ---------------------------------------------------------
                                         1996        1995        1994        1993        1992
                                       ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                        (Thousands of dollars*)
<S>                                    <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
New funds advanced
  Consumer loans
     Funds advanced..................  $1,868,293  $1,929,581  $1,736,634  $1,474,139  $1,241,420
     Average amount..................  $   2,304   $   2,272   $   2,014   $   1,836   $   1,705
  Real estate loans
     Funds advanced..................  $ 635,323   $ 709,624   $ 727,139   $ 642,082   $ 630,594
     Average amount..................  $  21,982   $  23,608   $  23,714   $  21,022   $  20,357
 
Receivables outstanding at end of
  period
  Consumer loans
     Net balance.....................  $3,206,062  $3,021,227  $2,721,905  $2,389,994  $2,275,016
     Average amount..................  $   2,909   $   2,888   $   2,725   $   2,407   $   2,214
 
  Real estate loans
     Net balance.....................  $2,546,850  $2,512,619  $2,415,621  $2,260,815  $2,141,900
     Average amount..................  $  29,615   $  27,311   $  27,450   $  25,120   $  23,318
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
* Except average amount.
 
  Retail Installment Contracts
 
     The Registrant's sales finance operations consist principally of the
purchase, generally without recourse, of retail installment contracts from
dealers in automobiles, furniture, television sets, household appliances and
floor coverings. Retail installment operations provide a source of new customers
for consumer loan business. In general, retail installment contracts carry a
lower profit margin than consumer loans, and the volume of such business tends
to be more volatile.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   4
 
     The following table summarizes retail installment contracts purchased
(excluding contracts acquired from other finance companies) and outstanding:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        Year ended December 31,
                                        --------------------------------------------------------
                                          1996        1995        1994        1993        1992
                                        ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   --------
                                                        (Thousands of dollars*)
<S>                                     <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Retail installment contracts
  purchased...........................  $1,298,976  $1,310,373  $1,319,291  $1,041,981  $945,380
Retail installment contracts
  outstanding at end of period:
     Net balance......................  $1,209,330  $1,135,830  $1,107,282  $ 741,998   $656,668
     Average amount...................  $   1,017   $   1,067   $   1,042   $     859   $    808
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
* Except average amount.
 
  Other Receivables
 
     At December 31, 1996, other receivables outstanding of $291.5 million
consisted primarily of finance lease receivables generated by the Registrant's
Australian, Canadian and Hong Kong operations. Such leases are generally written
for periods not exceeding 4 years.
 
  Lending Policies
 
     In conducting lending activities, it is the policy of the Registrant to
require a satisfactory credit history. Loans are made to individuals primarily
on the basis of the borrower's income and are limited to amounts which the
customer appears able to repay without hardship. Investigation of the
creditworthiness of obligors is made either through credit agencies or by the
Registrant's own agents. When security is taken in connection with a loan, the
realizable value of the property on which liens are taken as security is in many
cases less than the amount of the related receivable (except for real estate in
which case the loan amount is limited to a maximum of 85% of the unencumbered
appraised market value).
 
     Subject to governmental restrictions, the Registrant makes loans secured by
consumer goods for varying periods, with original contractual terms generally
not exceeding 4 years. Loans secured by real estate generally do not exceed 15
years. During 1996, the weighted average maturity of real estate loans written
was approximately 10 years. The Registrant purchases retail installment
contracts with original contractual terms generally not exceeding 3 years.
 
  Nonearning Assets
 
     Accrual of interest income is suspended for accounts which are
contractually delinquent by more than three payments. Once an account is
suspended, subsequent interest income is recognized when collected.
 
     Nonearning assets represent those finance receivables on which both the
accrual of interest income has been suspended and for which no payment of
principal or interest has been received for more than 30 days. Nonearning assets
totaled approximately $140.7 million at December 31, 1996 and $115.0 million at
December 31, 1995.
 
  Loss Experience
 
     Provisions for losses on receivables are charged to income in amounts
sufficient to maintain the allowance at a level adequate to cover the losses of
principal and interest in the existing receivable portfolio. The determination
of an appropriate allowance for losses is based upon loss experience and payment
history.
 
     It is the Registrant's policy to write off accounts when they are deemed
uncollectible, but in any event, all accounts for which an amount aggregating a
full contractual payment has not been received for six consecutive months are
written off.
 
     Foreclosed real estate loans are transferred out of finance receivables
into other assets at the lower of fair value (less estimated costs to sell) or
the outstanding loan balance. The difference between the amount
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   5
 
transferred and the outstanding loan balance is written off. Subsequent gains
and losses on the disposition of real estate owned are reflected in other
operating expenses. At December 31, 1996 and 1995, real estate owned was $48.0
million and $43.9 million, respectively.
 
     The allowance for losses at December 31, 1996 was $218.4 million or 3.01%
of finance receivables then outstanding; such allowance at December 31, 1995 was
$195.4 million or 2.82% of finance receivables outstanding. See Note 2 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements of the Registrant for an analysis of the
allowance for losses for the five years ended December 31, 1996. The following
table shows gross and net write-offs, the percentages which these items bear to
average finance receivables and the amount of the provision for losses charged
to income (less recoveries):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       Gross write-offs      Recoveries       Net write-offs
                                    ----------------------      from      ----------------------
                                               Percentage    receivables             Percentage    Provision
                                               of average    previously              of average    for losses
                                                 finance      written                  finance        less
     Year ended December 31,         Amount    receivables      off        Amount    receivables   recoveries
- ----------------------------------  --------   -----------   ----------   --------   -----------   ----------
                                                             (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                 <C>        <C>           <C>          <C>        <C>           <C>
          1996....................  $230,155        3.3%      $35,480    $194,675       2.8%       $203,410
          1995....................   176,804        2.6        32,914     143,890       2.1         149,143
          1994....................   141,886        2.5        28,452     113,434       2.0         136,101
          1993....................   138,104        2.7        26,611     111,493       2.1         120,694
          1992....................   136,795        2.7        26,797     109,998       2.2         118,251
</TABLE>
 
     The following table presents for the five years ended December 31, 1996
loans on which one or more installments were more than 60 days delinquent on a
contractual basis (expressed as a percentage of the related gross receivables
outstanding):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      Real
                                     Estate       Other        Total
     Year ended December 31,         Loans       Loans*        Loans
- ----------------------------------  --------   -----------   ----------
<S>                                 <C>        <C>           <C>      
          1996....................     1.89%       3.96%         3.25%
          1995....................     1.76%       3.50%         2.89%
          1994....................     1.29%       2.84%         2.28%
          1993....................     1.45%       3.12%         2.46%
          1992....................     1.37%       3.77%         2.80%
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
* Includes consumer loans and retail installment contracts.
 
  Sources of Funds
 
     The Registrant's finance operations are financed from its common stock,
additional paid-in capital, retained earnings, unsecured borrowings against bank
lines of credit, unsecured commercial paper borrowings and unsecured medium- and
long-term borrowings.
 
     The cost of borrowing, which is generally affected by changes in interest
rates, represents a material expense of the Registrant. Since the maximum rates
which the Registrant may charge on certain consumer loans are limited by law in
many jurisdictions in the United States (see "Regulation"), any rise in
prevailing interest rates adversely affects the profitability of the
Registrant's finance operations.
 
     The Registrant's average annual cost of borrowed funds for each fiscal year
1996 through 1992 was as follows: 1996 -- 6.88%; 1995 -- 7.32%; 1994 -- 6.63%;
1993 -- 6.97%; and 1992 -- 8.11%.
 
AVCO INSURANCE SERVICES GROUP
 
     The Registrant, through the Avco Insurance Services Group, is engaged in
the credit life, credit disability and casualty insurance business in most
states of the United States, all Canadian provinces, seven Australian
jurisdictions and New Zealand. Where applicable laws permit, the Registrant
makes available to customers credit life, credit disability and casualty
insurance through the Avco Financial Services Group or independent
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   6
 
companies. During 1996, approximately 74% of the Group's credit life and credit
disability insurance business and approximately 18% of its casualty insurance
business was derived from the Registrant's finance customers. The Group's
remaining credit life, credit disability and casualty insurance business is
written with customers on a direct basis or through independent agents.
 
     The Group's casualty business consists primarily of insurance covering
collateral protection, involuntary unemployment, personal property and
automobile physical damage.
 
     The following table summarizes the results of operations of the Avco
Insurance Services Group by major line of business included in the consolidated
financial statements of the Registrant:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Year ended December 31,
                                               -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 1996         1995         1994         1993         1992
                                               ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
                                                                                      (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                            <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Credit Life, Credit Disability and Other
 
  Premiums written..........................   $ 151,048    $ 145,243    $ 151,370    $ 135,218    $ 123,863
                                               =========    =========    =========    =========    =========
  Premiums earned...........................   $ 145,026    $ 139,105    $ 131,840    $ 127,458    $ 123,122
  Investment income.........................      38,258       35,594       20,239       19,793       19,366
  Losses and adjustment expenses, less
    recoveries..............................     (64,211)     (61,782)     (58,268)     (59,306)     (56,181)
  Expenses..................................     (61,218)     (58,535)     (55,019)     (54,826)     (51,923)
  Income taxes..............................     (19,007)     (18,043)     (11,567)     (10,514)     (10,840)
                                               ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
  Income before cumulative effect of changes
    in accounting principles................      38,848       36,339       27,225       22,605       23,544
  Cumulative effect of changes in accounting
    principles..............................                                                          (1,788)
                                               ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
  Net income................................   $  38,848    $  36,339    $  27,225    $  22,605    $  21,756
                                               =========    =========    =========    =========    =========
Casualty
  Premiums written..........................   $ 254,931    $ 240,723    $ 173,380    $ 158,645    $ 151,146
                                               =========    =========    =========    =========    =========
  Premiums earned...........................   $ 253,615    $ 210,654    $ 155,538    $ 150,954    $ 151,886
  Investment income.........................      25,942       19,447       24,085       23,532       23,168
  Losses and adjustment expenses, less
    recoveries..............................    (119,846)     (93,695)     (69,417)     (72,764)     (80,957)
  Expenses..................................    (120,633)    (107,870)     (82,848)     (82,894)     (75,369)
  Income taxes..............................     (13,041)      (9,275)      (8,966)      (5,004)      (4,762)
                                               ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
  Income before cumulative effect of changes
    in accounting principles................      26,037       19,261       18,392       13,824       13,966
  Cumulative effect of changes in accounting
    principles..............................                                                          (1,788)
                                               ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
  Net income................................   $  26,037    $  19,261    $  18,392    $  13,824    $  12,178
                                               =========    =========    =========    =========    =========
Total Operations
  Premiums written..........................   $ 405,979    $ 385,966    $ 324,750    $ 293,863    $ 275,009
                                               =========    =========    =========    =========    =========
  Premiums earned...........................   $ 398,641    $ 349,759    $ 287,378    $ 278,412    $ 275,008
  Investment income(1)......................      64,200       55,041       44,324       43,325       42,534
  Losses and adjustment expenses, less
    recoveries..............................    (184,057)    (155,477)    (127,685)    (132,070)    (137,138)
  Expenses..................................    (181,851)    (166,405)    (137,867)    (137,720)    (127,292)
  Income taxes..............................     (32,048)     (27,318)     (20,533)     (15,518)     (15,602)
                                               ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
  Income before cumulative effect of changes
    in accounting principles................      64,885       55,600       45,617       36,429       37,510
  Cumulative effect of changes in accounting
    principles..............................                                                          (3,576)
                                               ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
  Net income................................   $  64,885    $  55,600    $  45,617    $  36,429    $  33,934
                                               =========    =========    =========    =========    =========
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
(1) Investment income includes capital gains of $11.2 million, $3.2 million,
    $2.8 million, $4.3 million and $3.1 million for the years 1996 through 1992,
    respectively.
 
     Included in the assets of the Avco Insurance Services Group at December 31,
1996 were investments in securities carried at $798.2 million for which the
aggregate cost was $784.4 million. At December 31, 1996, the Avco Insurance
Services Group carried a valuation adjustment for its investments totaling $9.0
million.
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   7
 
This valuation adjustment represents the excess of aggregate estimated fair
value over aggregate cost of its securities (net of applicable taxes).
 
     The composition of invested assets of the Avco Insurance Services Group at
December 31, 1996 and 1995 and the returns on such investments for the years
then ended were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          1996                     1995
                                                  --------------------     --------------------
                                                   Amount      Percent      Amount      Percent
                                                  --------     -------     --------     -------
                                                             (Thousands of dollars)
    <S>                                           <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>
    Composition of Invested Assets
      Equities, at market
         Preferred..............................  $  7,102         .9%     $  6,831         .9%
         Common.................................    17,842        2.1        16,772        2.2
      Bonds available for sale, at estimated
         fair value(1)..........................   682,116       84.0       654,961       84.2
      Commercial paper, at estimated fair value
         (approximates cost)....................    89,180       11.0        79,233       10.2
      First mortgages on real estate, at cost...     1,975         .2         2,052         .3
                                                  --------                 --------
         Investments............................   798,215                  759,849
      Other invested assets.....................     3,507         .5         5,706         .7
      Cash......................................    10,761        1.3        11,912        1.5
                                                  --------      -----      --------      -----
              Total.............................  $812,483      100.0%     $777,467      100.0%
                                                  ========      =====      ========      =====
    Return on Invested Assets
      Investment income (before taxes)(2).......  $ 64,200                 $ 55,041
      Mean invested assets......................  $765,653                 $707,226
      Return on mean invested assets, before
         taxes..................................       8.4%                     7.8%
      Return on mean invested assets, after
         taxes..................................       5.7%                     5.1%
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
(1) Substantially all of the Registrant's bond portfolio is in investment grade
    securities.
 
(2) Includes capital gains and losses set forth in note (1) to the immediately
preceding table.
 
OPERATIONS BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA
 
     The Registrant's foreign operations are conducted primarily in Australia,
Canada and the United Kingdom. At December 31, 1996, the Registrant operated 146
finance offices in Australia, 214 in Canada and 97 in the United Kingdom. In
these countries, the Registrant engages primarily in consumer finance and
related insurance activities similar to those conducted in the United States. At
December 31, 1996, the percentage of finance receivables of the Australian,
Canadian and United Kingdom finance operations in relation to the Registrant's
total finance receivables was 15%, 14% and 9%, respectively. Operations in these
countries are subject to regulation and competition comparable to that existing
in the United States. See "Regulation" and "Competition". The Registrant
commenced operations in Hong Kong, New Zealand and Spain in 1994, 1990 and 1992,
respectively. Such operations are not individually material to the Registrant's
consolidated financial position or results of operations. For a summary of
revenues, income before income taxes and identifiable assets by geographic area,
see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Registrant.
 
REGULATION
 
     The Registrant's loan business is regulated by laws which are in force in
certain jurisdictions in which the Registrant operates and which, among other
things, in many states limit maximum charges for loans, the maximum amount and
terms thereof. In jurisdictions within Australia, the United Kingdom and the
United States, laws also require that each office conducting a consumer loan
business be separately licensed. Such licenses have limited terms, but are
renewable, and are subject to revocation for cause. Laws
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   8
 
under which the Registrant operates also require disclosure to customers of the
annual simple interest rate and other basic terms of most credit transactions
and give customers a limited right to cancel certain loans and retail
installment contracts without penalty.
 
     In addition, in certain jurisdictions in which the Registrant operates, the
retail installment business conducted by it is subject to regulatory legislation
which, among other things, limits the rates which may be charged and requires
disclosure to customers as to the terms of the financing transactions.
 
     The insurance businesses have been subject for many years to licensing and
detailed regulation by state authorities, and the rates charged on certain lines
of insurance are subject to governmental limitation and change. In recent years,
the rates which may be charged on credit life insurance generally have been
reduced by the regulatory authorities. The state insurance regulations also
include limitations on the amounts of dividends that can be paid by insurance
companies.
 
     The laws of many states in which the Registrant's insurance subsidiaries
are admitted to do business require as a condition of admission that all
insurance companies so admitted collectively guarantee to policyholders the
benefits payable under policies issued by other insurance companies admitted in
the particular state up to statutory levels. The Registrant's insurance
subsidiaries have not been required to date to make any significant payments
pursuant to such guarantees. While the amount of any assessments which may be
made in the future cannot be predicted, the Registrant does not believe the
total assessments, if any, will be material to its net income or financial
condition.
 
COMPETITION
 
     The consumer finance business is highly competitive. The Registrant's
competitors include not only other companies operating under consumer loan laws,
but also other types of lending institutions not so regulated and usually not
limited in the size of their loans, such as companies which finance the sale of
their own merchandise or the merchandise of others, industrial banks, the
personal loan departments of commercial banks and credit unions. The most
serious competition is offered by commercial banks and credit unions. The
effective interest rates charged by these lenders are usually lower than the
rates charged by the Registrant. The Registrant's insurance businesses, to the
extent that they are not related to the Registrant's finance activities, compete
with many other insurance companies offering similar products.
 
ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES
 
     Almost all of the offices of the Registrant are occupied under leases.
Reference is made to Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the
Registrant for information concerning the Registrant's lease obligations. The
Registrant does not own any substantial amount of physical property other than
properties acquired by enforcing security interests and office furniture and
fixtures. Of the 1,235 loan offices which the Registrant operated at December
31, 1996, 753 were located in the United States, the Virgin Islands and the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 214 in Canada, 146 in Australia and 97 in the
United Kingdom.
 
ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
     Because the business of the Registrant involves the collection of numerous
accounts, the validity of liens, accident and other damage or loss claims under
many types of insurance, and compliance with state and federal consumer laws,
the Registrant and its subsidiaries are plaintiffs and defendants in numerous
legal proceedings, including individual and class action proceedings which seek
compensatory, treble or punitive damages in substantial amounts. It is the
opinion of the Registrant's management, based upon the advice of its counsel,
that the aggregate liability from pending or threatened litigation will not have
a material effect on the Registrant's net income or financial condition.
 
ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
 
     Omitted in accordance with General Instruction J(2)(c).
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   9
 
                                    PART II
 
ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED
         STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
 
     Textron Inc. owns all of the outstanding common stock of the Registrant.
 
     Dividends of $94.9 million and $90.1 million were declared and paid in 1996
and 1995, respectively. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of
the Registrant regarding restrictions as to dividend availability.
 
ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
     The following selected financial information has been derived from the
Consolidated Financial Statements for the five years ended December 31, 1996 and
is reported upon in the "Report of Independent Auditors" included on page 12.
The information should be read in conjunction with the "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations", and the
Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes, included elsewhere in
this report.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Year ended December 31,
                                       --------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1996         1995         1994         1993         1992
                                       ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
                                                           (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                    <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
REVENUES AND INCOME
Revenues
  Financial Services and Related
     Insurance.......................  $1,499,488   $1,444,893   $1,214,918   $1,145,756   $1,160,637
  Nonrelated Insurance...............     260,582      219,094      173,316      178,308      180,197
                                       ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
          Total Revenues.............  $1,760,070   $1,663,987   $1,388,234   $1,324,064   $1,340,834
                                       ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========
Income Before Income Taxes
  Financial Services and Related
     Insurance.......................  $  278,825   $  271,299   $  242,314   $  217,789   $  193,782
  Nonrelated Insurance...............      19,734       16,160       16,796        7,995       10,131
                                       ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
          Total income before income
            taxes....................     298,559      287,459      259,110      225,784      203,913
Income taxes.........................     111,552      108,056       96,781       83,755       75,887
                                       ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
Income before cumulative effect of
  changes in accounting principles...     187,007      179,403      162,329      142,029      128,026
Cumulative effect of changes in
  accounting principles(1)...........                                                         (24,328)
                                       ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
Net Income...........................  $  187,007   $  179,403   $  162,329   $  142,029   $  103,698
                                       ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========
Ratio of Income to Fixed
  Charges(2).........................     1.7          1.6          1.7          1.7          1.5
                                       ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Receivables Outstanding..............  $7,253,738   $6,933,526   $6,336,368   $5,469,563   $5,158,305
Investments..........................     927,571      852,450      704,244      655,690      586,339
Consolidated Assets..................   8,195,059    7,790,948    7,038,291    6,122,960    5,785,967
Debt (excludes savings deposits)
  Commercial paper and banks.........   2,766,994    2,413,601    2,430,291    1,959,063    1,580,021
     Notes...........................   3,630,889    3,746,652    3,168,178    2,851,399    2,987,467
Stockholder's Equity.................   1,152,686    1,028,230      893,744      827,511      753,071
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
(1) Effective at the beginning of 1992, the Registrant adopted Statements of
    Financial Accounting Standards Nos. 106, "Employers' Accounting for
    Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions", and 109, "Accounting for
    Income Taxes".
 
(2) See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Registrant for
    computation of "Ratio of Income to Fixed Charges".
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   10
 
ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
         OF OPERATIONS
 
     1996 vs. 1995 -- Revenues increased $96 million (6%) and income before
income taxes increased $11.1 million (4%), reflecting improved results in both
the Financial Services and Related Insurance segment and the Nonrelated
Insurance segment of the Registrant's operations.
 
  Financial Services and Related Insurance
 
     REVENUES of this segment increased $55 million (4%) due primarily to: (i)
an increase in finance receivable yields (18.52% in 1996 vs. 18.20% in 1995),
which had the effect of increasing revenues by approximately $25 million; (ii)
an increase in premiums earned associated with an increase in premiums written;
and (iii) an increase in investment and other income, attributable to an
increase in capital gains resulting from a higher volume of sales in the bond
investment portfolio and a gain on the sale of certain finance receivables.
 
     INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES of this segment increased $7.5 million (3%) due
primarily to: (i) the increase in revenues and (ii) a decrease in the cost of
borrowed funds (6.88% in 1996 vs. 7.32% in 1995). These factors were partially
offset by an increase in the provision for credit losses attributable to an
increase in the ratio of net credit losses to average finance receivables (2.82%
in 1996 vs. 2.10% in 1995) and the strengthening of the allowance for credit
losses (3.01% of finance receivables outstanding at December 31, 1996 vs. 2.82%
at December 31, 1995).
 
     The general proliferation of credit cards and the resulting increase in the
level of consumer debt in the United States and Canada have continued to burden
the consumer finance customer, resulting in higher delinquencies and
charge-offs, and such proliferation has provided the consumer an alternative
source of funds, thereby reducing the Registrant's receivable growth.
 
  Nonrelated Insurance
 
     REVENUES of this segment increased $41 million (19%) due primarily to an
increase in premiums earned associated with an increase in premiums written
(resulting from growth in existing accounts as well as the addition of new
accounts in the second half of 1995).
 
     INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES of this segment increased $3.6 million (22%) due
primarily to: (i) an increase in investment income attributable to a higher
level of investments outstanding and higher capital gains and (ii) a decrease in
underwriting expenses in relation to earned premiums. These favorable factors
were partially offset by higher losses in all lines of business.
 
  1995 vs. 1994
 
     REVENUES for the year ended December 31, 1995 were $1.664 billion compared
to $1.388 billion for the year ended December 31, 1994, an increase of $276
million (19.9%). The increase resulted primarily from an increase in the level
of receivables outstanding, earned premium, and investment income, partially
offset by a slight decrease in yields on finance receivables.
 
     INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES for the year ended December 31, 1995 was $287.5
million compared to $259.1 million for the year ended December 31, 1994, an
increase of $28.4 million (11%). This increase resulted primarily from: (i) an
increase in the level of receivables outstanding as average finance receivables
were $6.867 billion for 1995 compared to $5.696 billion for 1994; (ii) a 21.7%
increase in earned premiums; (iii) a decrease in the ratio of operating expenses
to revenues in both the finance and insurance operations (32.3% in 1995 as
compared to 33.7% in 1994); and (iv) a 25% increase in investment income due
primarily to higher yields and a higher level of invested assets. This increase
in income was partially offset by: (i) an increase in the cost of borrowed funds
to 7.32% for 1995 from 6.63% for 1994; (ii) an increase in the ratio of net
credit losses to average finance receivables to 2.10% in 1995 from 1.99% in
1994; and (iii) lower receivable yields due primarily to an increase in the
level of retail installment contracts outstanding. Interest income as a percent
of average finance receivables was 18.20% for 1995 compared to 18.39% for 1994.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   11
 
     Since the latter part of 1995 there has been an increase in delinquencies
and net credit losses due to economic slowdowns in the countries in which the
Registrant operates and the consumer debt load continued to increase faster than
the consumers' ability to pay.
 
LIQUIDITY/CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
     The Registrant consists of the Avco Financial Services Group and Avco
Insurance Services Group. The insurance operations have historically generated
positive cash flows sufficient to preclude the need for borrowings.
 
     The Registrant utilizes a broad base of financial sources for its liquidity
and capital requirements. Cash is provided from both operations and several
different sources of borrowings, including unsecured borrowings under bank lines
of credit, the issuance of commercial paper and sales of medium- and long-term
debt in the U.S. and foreign financial markets.
 
     Under interest rate exchange agreements, the Registrant makes periodic
fixed payments in exchange for periodic variable payments. The Registrant has
entered into such agreements to mitigate its exposure to increases in interest
rates on a portion of its variable rate debt. The effect of the swaps is to fix
the rate of interest on a portion of the Registrant's variable rate debt,
thereby giving it the characteristics of long-term fixed rate debt. The
agreements are designated against (i) specific long-term variable rate
borrowings and (ii) existing short-term borrowings. The Registrant continuously
monitors the level of short-term borrowings to ensure that there is a high
degree of probability that its short-term borrowings will remain at a level in
excess of the notional amount of the designated agreements.
 
     At December 31, 1996, the Registrant had interest rate exchange agreements
which had the effect of fixing the rate of interest at approximately 7.9% on
$1.143 billion of variable rate borrowing. The agreements, which expire through
2000, had a weighted average remaining term of less than 2 years. By utilizing
medium-and long-term fixed rate financing, as well as interest rate exchange
agreements, the Registrant had a ratio of fixed rate debt to total debt of 56%
at December 31, 1996.
 
     During the three years ended December 31, 1996, short-term rates were lower
than long-term rates. As a result, the amount the Registrant paid on swaps
exceeded the amount it received. The spread between the variable rate the
Registrant received and the fixed rate the Registrant paid increased the
reported interest expense by $16.8 million in 1996, $10.9 million in 1995 and
$17.2 million in 1994. Such spread had the effect of increasing the Registrant's
cost of borrowing by .27% in 1996, .18% in 1995 and .34% in 1994. See Note 5 to
the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Registrant for additional
information regarding interest rate exchange agreements.
 
     For liquidity purposes, the Registrant has a policy of maintaining
sufficient unused bank lines of credit to support its outstanding commercial
paper. The commercial paper coverage ratio at December 31, 1996, was 109.5%. For
further information regarding commercial paper and bank lines of credit, see
Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Registrant.
 
     At December 31, 1996, $2.55 billion (35.1%) of the Registrant's finance
receivables were represented by residential real estate loans, secured primarily
by first and second mortgages on single family homes, which averaged $30
thousand in outstanding principal balance per loan. Such loans are
geographically dispersed among many customers, and the loan amounts are limited
to a maximum of 85% of the unencumbered appraised market value at the date of
the loans, although most loans are made at significantly lower loan to value
ratios. The Registrant believes that substantially all such loans remain fully
secured.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   12
 
     Foreclosed real estate loans are transferred out of finance receivables
into other assets at the lower of fair value (less estimated costs to sell) or
the outstanding loan balance. The carrying value of real estate owned is
periodically reevaluated and, where appropriate, adjustments are made to reflect
subsequent decreases in fair value. At December 31, 1996, real estate classified
in other assets aggregated $48.0 million.
 
     At December 31, 1996, the Registrant had an investment portfolio of $927.6
million, primarily represented by high quality, investment grade debt
securities. Such portfolio included $179.5 million ($179.7 million market value)
of mortgage-backed securities, including $53.8 million guaranteed by the U.S.
Government or agencies thereof.
 
     The amount of net assets of the Registrant available for cash dividends and
other payments to its parent, Textron Inc., is restricted by the terms of
lending agreements and insurance statutory requirements. The Registrant paid
dividends of $94.9 million, $90.1 million and $81.0 million to Textron Inc. in
1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements of the Registrant for restrictions.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   13
 
ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
 
                         REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
The Board of Directors
Avco Financial Services, Inc.
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Avco Financial
Services, Inc. as of December 31, 1996 and 1995 and the related consolidated
statements of income, cash flows and changes in stockholder's equity for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996. Our audits also included
the financial statement schedules listed in the accompanying index to financial
statements at Item 14(a). These financial statements and schedules are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Avco Financial
Services, Inc. at December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the consolidated results of
its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedules,
when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
 
We have also previously audited, in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards, the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 1994, 1993 and 1992,
and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows, and changes in
stockholder's equity for the years ended December 31, 1993 and 1992 (none of
which are presented separately herein), and we expressed unqualified opinions on
those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set
forth in the selected financial data for each of the five years in the period
ended December 31, 1996, appearing on page 8, is fairly stated in all material
respects in relation to the consolidated financial statements from which it has
been derived.
 
                                                               ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Orange County, California
January 23, 1997
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   14
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            December 31,
                                                                      -------------------------
                                                                         1996           1995
                                                                      ----------     ----------
                                                                       (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                                                   <C>            <C>
                                            ASSETS
Finance receivables -- net..........................................  $6,762,507     $6,476,614
Investments.........................................................     927,571        852,450
Property and equipment..............................................      80,646         72,159
Insurance policy acquisition costs..................................      60,480         54,716
Goodwill............................................................      27,086         21,388
Cash................................................................      15,562         25,454
Other...............................................................     321,207        288,167
                                                                      ----------     ----------
          TOTAL ASSETS..............................................  $8,195,059     $7,790,948
                                                                      ==========     ==========
 
                             LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
Debt................................................................  $6,403,348     $6,165,437
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities............................     303,713        285,909
Insurance reserves and claims.......................................
  Unearned insurance premiums.......................................     215,768        196,591
  Losses and adjustment expenses....................................      66,758         61,557
Income taxes........................................................      52,786         53,224
                                                                      ----------     ----------
          Total liabilities.........................................   7,042,373      6,762,718
                                                                      ----------     ----------
Stockholder's equity
  Common stock ($1 par value, 500,000 shares authorized;
     500,000 shares outstanding)....................................         500            500
  Additional paid-in capital........................................     137,588        137,588
  Retained earnings.................................................   1,041,543        949,436
  Securities valuation adjustment...................................      65,061         56,309
  Currency translation adjustment...................................     (92,006)      (115,603)
                                                                      ----------     ----------
          Total stockholder's equity................................   1,152,686      1,028,230
                                                                      ----------     ----------
          TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY................  $8,195,059     $7,790,948
                                                                      ==========     ==========
</TABLE>
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   15
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Year ended December 31,
                                                           --------------------------------------
                                                              1996          1995          1994
                                                           ----------    ----------    ----------
                                                                   (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                                        <C>           <C>           <C>
REVENUES
  Interest, discount and service charges.................. $1,276,687    $1,249,438    $1,047,783
  Credit life, credit disability and casualty insurance
     premiums.............................................    398,641       349,759       287,378
  Investment and other income (including net realized
     investment gains)....................................     84,742        64,790        53,073
                                                           ----------    ----------    ----------
          Total revenues..................................  1,760,070     1,663,987     1,388,234
 
EXPENSES
  Interest and debt expense
     Interest on notes....................................    240,687       261,223       212,422
     Amortization of debt expense.........................      4,731         4,740         3,555
     Interest on commercial paper, bank loans and other
       indebtedness.......................................    180,842       189,416       119,717
                                                           ----------    ----------    ----------
          Total...........................................    426,260       455,379       335,694
  Salaries, wages, and other employee benefits............    307,224       293,273       263,670
  Provision for losses on collection of finance
     receivables..........................................    203,410       149,143       136,101
  Credit life, credit disability and casualty insurance
     losses and adjustment expenses, less recoveries......    184,057       155,477       127,685
  Amortization of insurance policy acquisition costs......     90,808        79,168        61,531
  Other operating expenses................................    249,752       244,088       204,443
                                                           ----------    ----------    ----------
          Total expenses..................................  1,461,511     1,376,528     1,129,124
                                                           ----------    ----------    ----------
Income before income taxes                                    298,559       287,459       259,110
Income taxes..............................................    111,552       108,056        96,781
                                                           ----------    ----------    ----------
NET INCOME................................................ $  187,007    $  179,403    $  162,329
                                                           ==========    ==========    ==========
Ratio of income to fixed charges..........................    1.7           1.6           1.7
                                                              ===           ===           ===
</TABLE>
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   16
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Year ended December 31,
                                                          ---------------------------------------
                                                             1996          1995          1994
                                                          -----------   -----------   -----------
                                                                  (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                                       <C>           <C>           <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
  Net income............................................  $   187,007   $   179,403   $   162,329
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
     provided by operating activities:
     Provision for losses on collection of finance
       receivables......................................      203,410       149,143       136,101
     Depreciation.......................................       19,301        19,249        16,329
     Gain on sales of investments.......................      (11,218)       (3,167)       (2,845)
     Increase in insurance policy acquisition costs.....       (5,872)      (11,720)       (8,844)
     Increase in unearned insurance premiums and
       reserves for insurance losses and adjustment
       expenses.........................................       27,125        68,365        34,702
     Increase in accounts payable and accrued
       liabilities......................................       13,822         4,881        34,984
     Increase (decrease) in income taxes................       (2,012)      (14,540)        2,624
     Other - net........................................      (17,173)      (20,370)         (654)
                                                          -----------   -----------   -----------
          Net cash provided by operating activities.....      414,390       371,244       374,726
                                                          -----------   -----------   -----------
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
  Finance receivables originated or purchased...........   (4,610,664)   (4,272,148)   (4,143,681)
  Finance receivables repaid or sold....................    4,222,535     3,957,343     3,210,085
  Purchases of investments available for sale...........     (288,544)     (179,210)     (187,444)
  Proceeds from sales of investments available for
     sale...............................................      198,562        65,513        55,384
  Proceeds from maturities and calls of investments
     available for sale.................................       49,669        54,935        56,306
  Capital expenditures..................................      (31,249)      (22,108)      (19,897)
  Cash used in acquisition of assets of HFC of
     Australia, Ltd., net of cash acquired..............                    (39,808)
                                                          -----------   -----------   -----------
          Net cash used by investing activities.........     (459,691)     (435,483)   (1,029,247)
                                                          -----------   -----------   -----------
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
  Increase (decrease) in short-term debt................      282,940      (307,542)      446,121
  Proceeds from issuance of notes.......................      839,294     1,376,393     1,029,764
  Principal payments on notes...........................     (992,045)     (911,255)     (726,158)
  Increase (decrease) in savings deposits...............          120           380          (247)
  Dividends paid........................................      (94,900)      (90,100)      (81,000)
                                                          -----------   -----------   -----------
          Net cash provided by financing activities.....       35,409        67,876       668,480
                                                          -----------   -----------   -----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash.........................       (9,892)        3,637        13,959
Cash at beginning of year...............................       25,454        21,817         7,858
                                                          -----------   -----------   -----------
Cash at end of year.....................................  $    15,562   $    25,454   $    21,817
                                                          ===========   ===========   ===========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid during the year for:
  Interest..............................................  $   433,607   $   461,587   $   329,753
  Income taxes..........................................  $   111,193   $   122,310   $   100,711
</TABLE>
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   17
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
           CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Additional                   Securities      Currency
                                   Common    paid-in       Retained      valuation      translation
                                   stock     capital       earnings      adjustment     adjustment      Total
                                   ------   ----------    ----------   --------------   ----------    ----------
                                                              (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                <C>      <C>           <C>          <C>              <C>           <C>
Balance at December 31, 1993......  $500      $137,588    $  778,804      $ 31,980      $ (121,361)   $  827,511
  Net income......................                           162,329                                     162,329
  Cash dividends declared
     ($162.00 per common share)...                           (81,000)                                    (81,000)
  Change in valuation
     adjustment...................                                         (23,702)                      (23,702)
  Change in translation
     adjustment...................                                                           8,606         8,606
                                    ----      --------    ----------      --------      ----------    ----------
Balance at December 31, 1994......   500       137,588       860,133         8,278        (112,755)      893,744
  Net income......................                           179,403                                     179,403
  Cash dividends declared
     ($180.20 per common share)...                           (90,100)                                    (90,100)
  Change in valuation
     adjustment...................                                          48,031                        48,031
  Change in translation
     adjustment...................                                                          (2,848)       (2,848)
                                    ----      --------    ----------      --------      ----------    ----------
Balance at December 31, 1995......   500       137,588       949,436        56,309        (115,603)    1,028,230
Net income........................                           187,007                                     187,007
  Cash dividends declared ($189.80
     per common share)............                           (94,900)                                    (94,900)
  Change in valuation
     adjustment...................                                           8,752                         8,752
  Change in translation
     adjustment...................                                                          23,597        23,597
                                    ----      --------    ----------      --------      ----------    ----------
Balance at December 31, 1996......  $500      $137,588    $1,041,543      $ 65,061      $  (92,006)   $1,152,686
                                    ====      ========    ==========      ========      ==========    ==========
</TABLE>
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   18
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
NOTE 1:  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
 
     Avco Financial Services, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Avco Financial
Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries (AFS). All significant intercompany
transactions are eliminated. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior
year amounts to conform with current year presentation.
 
USE OF ESTIMATES
 
     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the amounts reported in those statements and
accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from such estimates.
 
FINANCE RECEIVABLES
 
  Revenue and Acquisition Cost Recognition
 
     For finance receivables, interest income is recognized in revenues using
the interest method so as to produce a constant rate of return over the terms of
the receivables. Accrual of interest income is suspended for accounts which are
contractually delinquent by more than three payments. Once an account is
suspended, subsequent interest income is recognized when collected. Fees
received and direct loan origination costs are deferred and recognized in income
over the contractual lives of the respective loans. Unamortized amounts are
recognized in income when loans are sold or paid in full.
 
  Credit Losses
 
     Provisions for losses on receivables are charged to income in amounts
sufficient to maintain the allowance at a level considered adequate to cover the
losses of principal and interest in the existing receivable portfolio. The
determination of an appropriate allowance for losses is based upon loss
experience and payment history.
 
     Finance receivables are written off when they are deemed uncollectible, but
in any event, all accounts for which an amount aggregating a full contractual
payment has not been received for six consecutive months are written off.
 
     Foreclosed real estate loans are transferred out of finance receivables
into other assets at the lower of fair value (less estimated costs to sell) or
the outstanding loan balance. The difference between the amount transferred and
the outstanding loan balance is written off. The carrying value of real estate
owned is periodically reevaluated and, where appropriate, adjustments are made
to reflect subsequent decreases in fair value. Subsequent gains and losses on
the disposition of real estate owned are reflected in other operating expenses.
 
INSURANCE OPERATIONS
 
  Recognition of Revenues and Expenses
 
     Unearned insurance premiums are deferred and subsequently recognized in
revenues over the lives of the policies (a) on the interest method for
decreasing term credit life insurance coverage and on the pro rata method for
level term credit life coverage, (b) in relation to anticipated claims for
credit disability insurance and (c) on the pro rata method for casualty
insurance.
 
  Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
 
     Costs, which vary with, and are primarily related to, the production of new
business, have been deferred to the extent such costs are deemed recoverable
from future profits. Such costs primarily include commissions and premium taxes.
These costs are amortized in proportion to premiums over the estimated lives of
the
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   19
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 1:  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

policies. Anticipated investment income is considered in determining if a
premium deficiency relating to short-term contracts exists.
 
  Insurance Reserves and Claims
 
     Insurance reserves and claims represent the estimated ultimate cost of
settling claims incurred as of the balance sheet date. The reserves for casualty
losses are based upon estimates for losses and loss adjustment expenses reported
prior to the close of the accounting period and estimates of incurred but not
reported losses and adjustment expenses based upon past experience and adjusted
for current conditions, net of reinsurance recoverable and salvage and
subrogation. The reserves for credit life and credit disability losses represent
estimates of those claims due and unpaid, in the course of settlement, and
incurred but not reported, computed using historical liquidation patterns
adjusted for changes in portfolio composition, net of reinsurance recoverable.
Due to the short-term nature of AFS' loss development and the effect of
reinsurance agreements, casualty insurance losses and adjustment expenses in
1996, 1995 and 1994 relating to insured events occurring prior to each of those
years, is immaterial.
 
  Reinsurance
 
     Prepaid reinsurance premiums and amounts recoverable from reinsurers are
estimated and recognized in a manner consistent with the reinsured policy.
 
     See Note 6 for further information about reinsurance.
 
INVESTMENTS
 
     AFS' securities portfolio is classified as available for sale and reported
at estimated fair value. Unrealized gains and losses, net of applicable income
taxes, are reported as a separate component of stockholder's equity.
 
     Net realized gains or losses resulting from sales or calls of investments
and losses resulting from declines in fair values of investments that are other
than temporary declines are included in revenues. The cost of securities sold
was based primarily upon the specific identification method. See Note 3 for
further information about investments.
 
INTEREST RATE EXCHANGE AGREEMENTS
 
     As part of its interest rate management strategies, AFS is a party to
various interest rate exchange agreements. While AFS is exposed to credit loss
for the periodic settlement of amounts due under such agreements in the event of
nonperformance by the counterparties, AFS does not anticipate nonperformance by
any of those parties. The risk of loss in the event of nonperformance by the
counterparties was not material at December 31, 1996.
 
     AFS' interest rate exchange agreements are accounted for on the accrual
basis. The agreements are designated against (i) specific long-term variable
rate borrowings and (ii) existing short-term borrowings. AFS continuously
monitors the level of short-term borrowings to ensure that there is a high
degree of probability that its short-term borrowings will remain at a level in
excess of the notional amount of the designated agreements. If AFS were to
determine it probable that the level of anticipated short-term borrowings will
at any time be less than the notional amount of designated agreements, any
excess would be marked to market and the associated gain or loss recorded in
income.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   20
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 1:  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS
 
     See Note 11 for information about AFS' accounting policies for
postretirement benefits other than pensions.
 
INCOME TAXES
 
     Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the
financial reporting basis and income tax basis of assets and liabilities based
on enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such amounts are expected to
be realized or settled. See Note 4 for further information about income taxes.
 
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
     The fair values presented in Note 14 are estimates of the fair values of
the financial instruments at a specific point in time using available market
information and appropriate valuation methodologies. These estimates are
subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and significant judgment in the
interpretation of current market data. Therefore, the fair values presented are
not necessarily indicative of amounts AFS could realize or settle currently. AFS
does not necessarily intend to dispose of or liquidate such instruments prior to
maturity.
 
FOREIGN OPERATIONS
 
     AFS' foreign entities' financial statements are measured in their
functional currency. Balance sheet accounts at December 31, 1996 and 1995 have
been translated at the closing rates on those dates. Income and expense accounts
have been translated at the average rates prevailing during the respective
periods. Adjustments resulting from the translation of the financial statements
of AFS' foreign operations are excluded from the determination of its
consolidated income and are accumulated as a separate component of consolidated
stockholder's equity until the entity is sold or substantially liquidated.
Foreign exchange gains and losses included in consolidated income (which relate
principally to transactions denominated in foreign currencies) in 1996, 1995 and
1994 were not material.
 
RATIO OF INCOME TO FIXED CHARGES
 
     The ratio of income to fixed charges represents the number of times fixed
charges (interest and debt expense [without adjustments for discounts or
premiums resulting from the repurchase of debt securities] and one-third of all
rent and related costs, considered to represent an appropriate interest factor,
charged to income) are covered by income before income taxes, cumulative effect
of changes in accounting principles and fixed charges.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   21
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 2:  FINANCE RECEIVABLES AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES
 
     Contractual maturities of finance receivables outstanding at December 31,
1996 and total finance receivables outstanding at that date and at December 31,
1995 were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   Contractual maturities             Less      Receivables outstanding
                            ------------------------------------    finance     -----------------------
                               1997         1998      1999-2011     charges        1996         1995
                            ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
                                                      (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                         <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Consumer loans............  $1,879,966   $1,273,746   $1,296,638   $1,244,288   $3,206,062   $3,021,227
Real estate loans.........     682,549      471,648    3,728,497    2,335,844    2,546,850    2,512,619
Retail installment 
  contracts...............     881,130      373,352      384,780      429,932    1,209,330    1,135,830
Other loans...............     146,126       74,970      116,124       45,724      291,496      263,850
                            ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
                            $3,589,771   $2,193,716   $5,526,039   $4,055,788    7,253,738    6,933,526
                            ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========
Less allowance for credit losses.............................................     (218,416)    (195,413)
Less finance-related insurance reserves and claims...........................     (272,815)    (261,499)
                                                                                ----------   ----------
Finance receivables -- net...................................................   $6,762,507   $6,476,614
                                                                                ==========   ==========
</TABLE>
 
     The maximum term over which consumer loans and retail installment contracts
are written is 10 years, but approximately 90% of these loans are written with
terms of 4 years or less. Real estate loans are written with a maximum term of
15 years. Consumer loans are unsecured or secured by personal property and are
in relatively small amounts. Retail installment contracts are secured by
personal property. Real estate loans are secured by real property and are
limited to a maximum of 85% of the property's unencumbered appraised market
value at the date of the loans.
 
     Accounts are often repaid or refinanced prior to contractual maturity.
Accordingly, the foregoing tabulation should not be regarded as a forecast of
future cash collections. During 1996 and 1995, cash collections of receivables
(excluding finance charges) were $4.2 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively.
The ratio of cash collections to average finance receivables was approximately
61% and 57%, respectively.
 
     Nonearning assets represent those finance receivables on which both the
accrual of interest income has been suspended and for which no payment of
principal or interest has been received for more than 30 days. Nonearning assets
totaled approximately $140.7 million at December 31, 1996 and $115.0 million at
December 31, 1995.
 
     AFS has commitments to extend additional credit to customers under
revolving secured and unsecured loan agreements. Interest rates charged are
variable. The agreements provide for suspension or termination of the credit
line for default and other factors adverse to the interests of AFS. At December
31, 1996, committed lines totaled approximately $1.022 billion of which
approximately $430 million remained unused.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   22
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 2:  FINANCE RECEIVABLES AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES (CONTINUED)

     Changes in the allowance for credit losses were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        Year ended December 31,
                                     -------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1996         1995         1994        1993(a)      1992(a)
                                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
                                                        (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                  <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Balance of the allowance for credit
  losses at beginning of year......  $ 195,413    $ 180,573    $ 155,015    $ 147,088    $ 135,330
Add -- charged to income:
     Real estate...................     20,430       19,457       21,106       25,487       17,616
     Other.........................    182,980      129,686      114,995       95,207      100,635
                                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
     Total.........................    203,410      149,143      136,101      120,694      118,251
Deduct -- balances charged off:
  Gross charge offs:
     Real estate...................    (22,483)     (21,939)     (20,845)     (25,125)     (15,394)
     Other.........................   (207,672)    (154,865)    (121,041)    (112,979)    (121,401)
                                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
     Total.........................   (230,155)    (176,804)    (141,886)    (138,104)    (136,795)
  Recoveries:
     Real estate...................      1,906        1,786        1,591        1,588        1,117
     Other.........................     33,574       31,128       26,861       25,023       25,680
                                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
     Total.........................     35,480       32,914       28,452       26,611       26,797
                                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
  Net charge offs..................   (194,675)    (143,890)    (113,434)    (111,493)    (109,998)
Other..............................     14,268        9,587        2,891       (1,274)       3,505
                                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Balance of the allowance for credit
  losses at end of year............  $ 218,416    $ 195,413    $ 180,573    $ 155,015    $ 147,088
                                     =========    =========    =========    =========    =========
 
Balance of the allowance for credit
  losses at the end of each year
  applicable to:
  Real estate......................  $  35,028    $  34,291    $  34,017    $  32,048    $  30,316
  Other............................    183,388      161,122      146,556      122,967      116,772
                                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
  Total............................  $ 218,416    $ 195,413    $ 180,573    $ 155,015    $ 147,088
                                     =========    =========    =========    =========    =========
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
(a) The above data for the two years ended 1993 is not reported upon herein by
    independent auditors.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   23
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 3:  INVESTMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           1996         1995
                                                                         --------     --------
                                                                             (Thousands of
                                                                               dollars)
<S>                                                                      <C>          <C>
Debt securities:
  Commercial paper, at estimated fair value (approximates cost)........  $ 89,180     $ 79,233
  Bonds available for sale at estimated fair value
     (cost: $686,140,000 in 1996 and $637,497,000 in 1995).............   697,844      666,184
                                                                         --------     --------
     Total.............................................................   787,024      745,417
                                                                         --------     --------
Marketable equity securities, at market:
 
  Preferred stocks (cost: $6,484,000 in 1996 and $6,513,000 in 1995)...     7,102        6,831
  Common stocks, industrial, miscellaneous and all other
     (cost: $41,332,000 in 1996 and $39,771,000 in 1995)...............   131,470       98,150
                                                                         --------     --------
     Total.............................................................   138,572      104,981
                                                                         --------     --------
 
First mortgages on real estate, at cost................................     1,975        2,052
                                                                         --------     --------
          Total........................................................  $927,571     $852,450
                                                                         ========     ========
</TABLE>
 
     The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities and
marketable equity securities at December 31, 1996 and 1995 were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       December 31, 1996
                                                        -----------------------------------------------
                                                                      Gross        Gross      Estimated
                                                        Amortized   unrealized   unrealized     fair
                                                          cost        gains        losses       value
                                                        ---------   ----------   ----------   ---------
                                                                    (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                                     <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of other U.S.
  Government agencies and authorities.................   $ 56,007     $  1,547     $  161      $ 57,393
Obligations of states, municipalities and political
  subdivisions........................................     74,849        4,038        697        78,190
Obligations of foreign governments and agencies.......     96,336        4,573         90       100,819
Public utility securities.............................     53,289          730        434        53,585
Mortgage-backed securities............................    179,484          829        583       179,730
Corporate securities..................................    315,355        4,106      2,154       317,307
Marketable equity securities..........................     47,816       90,777         21       138,572
                                                         --------     --------     ------      --------
     Debt and marketable equity securities available
       for sale.......................................   $823,136     $106,600     $4,140      $925,596
                                                         ========     ========     ======      ========
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        December 31, 1995
                                                         -----------------------------------------------
                                                                       Gross        Gross      Estimated
                                                         Amortized   unrealized   unrealized     fair
                                                           cost        gains        losses       value
                                                         ---------   ----------   ----------   ---------
                                                                     (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                                      <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of other U.S.
  Government agencies and authorities..................   $ 64,460     $ 3,878      $   38      $ 68,300
Obligations of states, municipalities and political
  subdivisions.........................................     93,223       4,833         726        97,330
Obligations of foreign governments and agencies........     78,866       4,502          58        83,310
Public utility securities..............................     61,230       1,961         105        63,086
Mortgage-backed securities.............................     39,554         784         176        40,162
Corporate securities...................................    379,397      15,468       1,636       393,229
Marketable equity securities...........................     46,284      58,788          91       104,981
                                                          --------    --------      ------      --------
     Debt and marketable equity securities available
       for sale........................................   $763,014     $90,214      $2,830      $850,398
                                                          ========    ========      ======      ========
</TABLE>
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   24
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 3:  INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

     The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities at December
31, 1996, by contractual maturity, are presented below. Expected maturities will
differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call
or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               Estimated
                                                                 Amortized       fair
                                                                   cost          value
                                                                 ---------     ---------
                                                                 (Thousands of dollars)
        <S>                                                      <C>           <C>
        Due in 1997............................................  $ 145,897     $ 146,454
        Due 1998 to 2001.......................................    260,573       265,912
        Due 2002 to 2006.......................................    133,282       137,103
        Due after 2006.........................................     56,084        57,825
        Mortgage-backed securities.............................    179,484       179,730
                                                                 ---------     ---------
                                                                 $ 775,320     $ 787,024
                                                                 =========     =========
</TABLE>
 
     Gross realized gains and (losses) on sales of securities were (in
millions), $9.8 and ($.4) in 1996, $6.7 and ($3.5) in 1995, and $4.5 and ($1.7)
in 1994.
 
NOTE 4:  INCOME TAXES
 
     AFS' provision for income tax is based upon including all eligible U.S.
subsidiaries in the consolidated U.S. federal income tax return filed by its
parent, Textron Inc. Such provision does not differ materially from the amount
which AFS would have provided if it and its eligible subsidiaries were filing
their own consolidated federal income tax return. The provision for income tax
also includes amounts for AFS' foreign subsidiaries which file their own
separate income tax returns. AFS recognizes deferred income taxes for temporary
differences between the financial reporting basis and income tax basis of assets
and liabilities based on enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when amounts
are likely to be realized or settled.
 
     For years beginning after December 31, 1995, the Puerto Rican government
decreased its corporate tax rate from 42% to 39%. In accordance with FAS 109,
the change in the tax rate resulted in a revaluation of AFS' net deferred tax
assets that were in existence at the beginning of 1996. The effect of this
revaluation was not material.
 
     Deferred income taxes have not been provided for the undistributed earnings
of foreign subsidiaries which aggregated approximately $405 million at the end
of 1996. Management intends to reinvest those earnings for an indefinite period,
except for distributions upon which incremental taxes would not be material. If
such earnings were distributed, taxes (net of foreign tax credits) would have
increased by approximately $28 million, principally due to foreign withholding
taxes.
 
     At December 31, 1996, consolidated stockholder's equity included $17
million of U.S. life insurance subsidiary policyholders' surplus on which no
income taxes have been provided. The amount of taxes which would become due if
the surplus were distributed is approximately $6 million. Under present
circumstances, it is not anticipated that any of these earnings will become
taxable.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   25
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 4:  INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)

     Income taxes (benefit) are summarized as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           1996         1995         1994
                                                         --------     --------     --------
                                                               (Thousands of dollars)
    <S>                                                  <C>          <C>          <C>
    Current
      Federal..........................................  $ 49,950     $ 56,628     $ 53,299
      State............................................     6,038        8,227        8,005
      Foreign..........................................    59,734       42,073       41,732
                                                         --------     --------     --------
                                                          115,722      106,928      103,036
    Deferred
      Federal..........................................    (4,792)      (2,826)      (3,650)
      State............................................      (276)        (938)        (503)
      Foreign..........................................       898        4,892       (2,102)
                                                         --------     --------     --------
                                                           (4,170)       1,128       (6,255)
                                                         --------     --------     --------
              Total income tax provision...............  $111,552     $108,056     $ 96,781
                                                         ========     ========     ========
</TABLE>
 
     The following reconciles the federal statutory income tax rate to the
effective income tax rate applicable to pretax income, as reflected in the
consolidated statement of income:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1996     1995     1994
                                                                     ----     ----     ----
    <S>                                                              <C>      <C>      <C>
    U.S. federal statutory tax rate................................  35.0%    35.0%    35.0%
    Increases (decreases) in taxes resulting from:
      Residual tax on foreign dividends............................    .8       .1       .6
      Higher tax on foreign income.................................   1.0      1.2       .7
      State income taxes...........................................   1.3      1.6      1.9
      Nontaxable investment income.................................  (0.9)    (1.0)     (.8)
      Other, net...................................................    .2       .7
                                                                     ----     ----     ----
    Effective income tax rate......................................  37.4%    37.6%    37.4%
                                                                     ====     ====     ====
</TABLE>
 
     AFS' net deferred tax asset consisted of gross deferred tax assets and
gross deferred tax liabilities of $120.9 million and $63.5 million,
respectively, at December 31, 1996 and $106.8 million and $46.4 million,
respectively, at December 31, 1995.
 
     The components of AFS' net deferred tax asset as of December 31, 1996 and
1995 were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1996           1995
                                                                   --------       --------
                                                                   (Thousands of Dollars)
    <S>                                                            <C>            <C>
    Allowance for credit losses..................................  $ 56,673       $ 51,005
    Liabilities for future policy benefits.......................    21,628         20,160
    Unrealized gain on marketable equity securities..............   (36,717)       (30,430)
    Obligation for postretirement benefits other than pensions...    13,877         13,664
    Depreciation.................................................    (8,703)        (6,703)
    Insurance policy acquisition costs...........................      (484)        (6,613)
    Lease financing transactions.................................       789         (2,616)
    Other -- principally timing of expense deductions............    10,314         21,967
                                                                   --------       --------
              Total net deferred tax asset.......................  $ 57,377       $ 60,434
                                                                   ========       ========
</TABLE>
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   26
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 5:  DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES
 
     At December 31, 1996 and 1995, consolidated debt consisted of the
following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1996           1995
                                                                  ----------     ----------
                                                                   (Thousands of dollars)
    <S>                                                           <C>            <C>
    Senior
      Commercial paper..........................................  $2,651,627     $2,067,722
      Banks.....................................................     115,367        345,879
      Savings deposits..........................................       5,465          5,184
      4.90% to 5.99% due 1996 to 2000(a)........................   1,124,414        730,777
      6.00% to 7.99% due 1996 to 2002(a)........................   1,819,816      2,076,114
      8.00% to 9.99% due 1996 to 2000(a)........................     664,676        834,218
      10.00% to 11.85% due 1996 to 1998.........................      20,983        101,643
                                                                  ----------     ----------
              Total senior debt.................................   6,402,348      6,161,537
                                                                  ----------     ----------
    Senior subordinated
      10.28% to 11.4% due 1996 to 1998..........................       1,000          3,900
                                                                  ----------     ----------
              Total debt........................................  $6,403,348     $6,165,437
                                                                  ==========     ==========
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
(a) Interest rates on certain notes are adjusted periodically.
 
     Bank borrowings are arranged under revolving lines of credit. These
borrowings are either on a demand basis or provide for maturities ranging up to
one year. Commercial paper is issued with maturities up to one year with
interest at prevailing market rates. The weighted average interest rates on bank
borrowings and commercial paper outstanding at December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994,
without giving effect to the costs of maintaining the lines of credit, were
6.5%, 7.5% and 6.3%, respectively, for bank borrowings (primarily consisting of
borrowings in foreign operations) and 5.4%, 6.2% and 6.1%, respectively, for
commercial paper. The weighted average interest rate on bank borrowings and
commercial paper outstanding during the three years ended December 31, 1996 was
5.9%, 6.6% and 4.8%, respectively. The weighted average interest rate is
determined primarily by reference to daily outstanding principal amounts and
excludes the cost of maintaining the lines of credit.
 
     At December 31, 1996 and 1995, AFS had lines of credit with various banks
amounting to $3.50 billion and $3.28 billion, respectively, of which the unused
portion of these lines amounted to $2.90 billion and $2.64 billion,
respectively. AFS generally pays fees in support of these lines.
 
     During the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, AFS issued the following
notes:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1996          1995
                                                                   --------     ----------
                                                                   (Thousands of dollars)
    <S>                                                            <C>          <C>
    Senior notes due 1996 to 1998 (Australia)....................  $422,187     $   55,775
    Senior notes due 1996 to 2000 (Canada).......................    36,675        139,702
    Senior notes due 1999 to 2000 (Hong Kong)....................    71,111         77,544
    Senior notes due 1996 to 1998 (United Kingdom)...............     9,321        153,372
    Senior notes due 1996 to 2002 (United States)................   300,000        950,000
                                                                   --------     ----------
              Total..............................................  $839,294     $1,376,393
                                                                   ========     ==========
</TABLE>
 
     Under interest rate exchange agreements, AFS makes periodic fixed payments
in exchange for periodic variable payments. AFS has entered into such agreements
to mitigate its exposure to increases in interest rates on a portion of its
variable rate debt. These agreements had weighted average remaining terms of
less than 2 years and had the effect of fixing the rate of interest at 7.9% and
8.2% on $1.143 billion and $1.063 billion
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   27
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 5:  DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES (CONTINUED)

of variable rate borrowing at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The
spread between the variable rate AFS received and the fixed rate AFS paid
increased the reported interest expense by $16.8 million in 1996, $10.9 million
in 1995, and $17.2 million in 1994. Such spread had the effect of increasing
AFS' cost of borrowing by .27% in 1996, .18% in 1995, and .34% in 1994.
 
     The following details AFS' "fixed-pay" interest rate exchange agreement
activity for the years 1996 and 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1996           1995
                                                                  ----------     ----------
                                                                   (Thousands of dollars)
    <S>                                                           <C>            <C>
    Beginning notional amount...................................  $1,063,118     $  748,517
    Notional amount of new contracts............................     412,407        509,035
    Notional amount of terminated and expired contracts.........    (332,156)      (194,434)
                                                                  ----------     ----------
    Ending notional amount......................................  $1,143,369     $1,063,118
                                                                  ==========     ==========
</TABLE>
 
     The notional amount of fixed-pay interest rate swap agreements at December
31, 1996 categorized by annual maturity, along with the related weighted average
interest rates paid are as follows: $377.9 million (8.4%) in 1997; $402.9
million (8.1%) in 1998; $336.7 million (7.0%) in 1999; and $25.9 million (6.8%)
in 2000.
 
     In 1996, AFS entered into additional fixed-pay interest rate exchange
agreements which become effective in 1997. These agreements expire through 2000
and will fix the rate of interest at 7.3% on $12 million of variable rate
borrowing. The agreements will mitigate AFS' exposure to increases in interest
rates primarily by replacing maturing fixed-pay swap agreements and fixed-rate
notes.
 
     AFS' exposure to credit risk associated with counterparty nonperformance on
interest rate exchange agreements is limited to the amounts reflected in AFS'
consolidated balance sheet. At December 31, 1996, such amounts were not
material.
 
     The aggregate maturities, required prepayments, redemptions and sinking
fund requirements with respect to the consolidated debt outstanding (excluding
commercial paper, bank notes and savings deposits) at December 31, 1996, for the
five years ending December 31, 2001, were (in millions): $853.0 in 1997; $744.2
in 1998; $875.2 in 1999; $758.5 in 2000; and $200.0 in 2001.
 
     The senior subordinated notes are subordinate and junior in right of
payment, in all respects, to all indebtedness of AFS for money borrowed.
 
NOTE 6: REINSURANCE
 
     In the normal course of business, AFS seeks to reduce the loss that may
arise through AFS' insurance subsidiaries from catastrophes or other events that
may cause unfavorable underwriting results by reinsuring certain levels of risk
in various areas of exposure with other insurance enterprises, or reinsurers.
 
     While reinsurance contracts do not relieve AFS from its obligations to
policyholders, AFS evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and
monitors concentration of credit risk arising from similar geographic regions,
activities or economic characteristics of the reinsurers to minimize its
exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies. Additionally, AFS
holds collateral under certain reinsurance agreements in the form of letters of
credit and trust accounts at December 31, 1996. Reinsurance receivables with a
carrying value of $2.4 million and prepaid reinsurance premiums of $36.6 million
relating to a quota share agreement were associated with a single reinsurer. AFS
holds collateral under this reinsurance agreement in the form of a trust account
totalling $42.5 million at December 31, 1996. Additionally, AFS holds collateral
under certain
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   28
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 6: REINSURANCE (CONTINUED)

other reinsurance agreements in the forms of letters of credit and trust
accounts. Reinsurance receivables and prepaid reinsurance premiums were $7.2
million and $38.1 million respectively at December 31, 1996 and $6.8 million and
$24.2 million respectively at December 31, 1995.
 
     The effect of reinsurance on premiums written, premiums earned and losses
incurred for the three years ended December 31, 1996 were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           1996         1995         1994
                                                         --------     --------     --------
                                                                     (Thousands of Dollars)
    <S>                                                  <C>          <C>          <C>
    Premiums Written
      Direct...........................................  $387,343     $382,592     $290,961
      Assumed..........................................    64,039       50,784       47,133
      Ceded............................................   (45,403)     (47,410)     (13,344)
                                                         --------     --------     --------
              Total premiums written...................  $405,979     $385,966     $324,750
                                                         ========     ========     ========
    Premiums Earned
      Direct...........................................  $397,753     $330,902     $254,741
      Assumed..........................................    60,693       44,195       47,114
      Ceded............................................   (59,805)     (25,338)     (14,477)
                                                         --------     --------     --------
              Total premiums earned....................  $398,641     $349,759     $287,378
                                                         ========     ========     ========
    Losses Incurred
      Direct...........................................  $170,855     $143,248     $115,218
      Assumed..........................................    20,210       16,626       15,176
      Ceded............................................    (7,008)      (4,397)      (2,709)
                                                         --------     --------     --------
              Total losses incurred....................  $184,057     $155,477     $127,685
                                                         ========     ========     ========
</TABLE>
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   29
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 7: OPERATIONS BY INDUSTRY SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA
 
     AFS is principally engaged in consumer finance and insurance activities.
AFS' finance operations mainly involve loans made by the Avco Financial Services
Group. Such loans consist primarily of consumer loans which are unsecured or
secured by personal property and are in relatively small amounts and for
relatively short periods; real estate loans which are secured by real property
in larger amounts and for considerably longer periods; and retail installment
contracts, principally covering personal property. As of December 31, 1996, AFS
operated 1,235 finance offices located in all states of the United States
(except Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Vermont), the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, all Canadian provinces and the Yukon
Territory, six Australian states and the Australian Capital Territory, Hong
Kong, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom. AFS' insurance business
consists primarily of the sale of credit life, credit disability and casualty
insurance offered by various subsidiaries (Avco Insurance Services Group), a
significant part of which is directly related to the AFS' finance activities.
 
  Industry Segment
 
     The following is a summary of revenues, income before income taxes and
identifiable assets by industry segment:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               Year ended December 31,
                                          ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             1996          1995          1994         1993*         1992*
                                          ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------
                                                                (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                       <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
Revenues
  Financial Services and Related
    Insurance...........................  $1,499,488    $1,444,893    $1,214,918    $1,145,756    $1,160,637
  Nonrelated Insurance..................     260,582       219,094       173,316       178,308       180,197
                                          ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------
         Total revenues.................  $1,760,070    $1,663,987    $1,388,234    $1,324,064    $1,340,834
                                          ==========    ==========    ==========    ==========    ==========
Income Before Income Taxes
  Financial Services and Related
    Insurance...........................  $  278,825    $  271,299    $  242,314    $  217,789    $  193,782
  Nonrelated Insurance..................      19,734        16,160        16,796         7,995        10,131
                                          ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------
         Total income before income
           taxes........................  $  298,559    $  287,459    $  259,110    $  225,784    $  203,913
                                          ==========    ==========    ==========    ==========    ==========
Identifiable Assets
  Financial Services and Related
    Insurance...........................  $7,802,766    $7,437,119    $6,582,978    $5,681,416    $5,360,280
  Nonrelated Insurance..................     392,293       353,829       455,313       441,544       425,687
                                          ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------
         Total identifiable assets......  $8,195,059    $7,790,948    $7,038,291    $6,122,960    $5,785,967
                                          ==========    ==========    ==========    ==========    ==========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
* The above data for the two years ended 1993 is not reported upon herein by
  independent auditors.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>   30
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 7: OPERATIONS BY INDUSTRY SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA (CONTINUED)
  Geographic Area
 
     The following is a summary of revenues, income before income taxes and
identifiable assets by geographic area:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               Year ended December 31,
                                          ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             1996          1995          1994         1993*         1992*
                                          ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------
                                                                (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                       <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
Revenues
  Australia.............................  $  258,899    $  240,683    $  148,264    $  133,080    $  137,054
  Canada................................     235,197       221,175       204,068       210,423       234,964
  United Kingdom........................     147,349       144,675       127,813       112,607       119,351
  United States.........................   1,071,412     1,028,907       900,023       867,954       849,465
  Other Countries**.....................      47,213        28,547         8,066
                                          ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------
         Total revenues.................  $1,760,070    $1,663,987    $1,388,234    $1,324,064    $1,340,834
                                          ==========    ==========    ==========    ==========    ==========
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes
  Australia.............................  $   58,236    $   53,801    $   43,796    $   34,542    $   30,125
  Canada................................      55,853        48,236        47,029        42,503        37,776
  United Kingdom........................      31,044        22,737        21,572        14,819        14,364
  United States.........................     144,354       158,592       147,274       133,920       121,648
  Other Countries**.....................       9,072         4,093          (561)
                                          ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------
         Total income before income
           taxes........................  $  298,559    $  287,459    $  259,110    $  225,784    $  203,913
                                          ==========    ==========    ==========    ==========    ==========
Identifiable Assets
  Australia.............................  $1,130,930    $1,081,286    $  646,958    $  526,410    $  473,424
  Canada................................   1,105,794     1,031,678       963,689       937,339       895,050
  United Kingdom........................     679,761       606,857       585,736       465,820       435,661
  United States.........................   4,911,331     4,823,918     4,735,989     4,193,391     3,981,832
  Other Countries**.....................     367,243       247,209       105,919
                                          ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------
         Total identifiable assets......  $8,195,059    $7,790,948    $7,038,291    $6,122,960    $5,785,967
                                          ==========    ==========    ==========    ==========    ==========
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 * The above data for the two years ended 1993 is not reported upon herein by
   independent auditors.
 
** Includes the operations of Hong Kong, New Zealand and Spain.
 
     At December 31, 1996, finance receivables in the United States represented
57% of AFS' total finance receivables outstanding. At such date, receivables
outstanding in no state exceeded 8% of the United States' portfolio, except
California in which outstanding receivables represented 17% of the United
States' portfolio and 9% of the consolidated portfolio.
 
     Capital expenditures and depreciation expense for each of the five years
ended 1996 were not material to the operations of the industry segments.
 
NOTE 8: CERTAIN PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN NOTES, LOAN AGREEMENTS AND CERTIFICATE
        OF INCORPORATION AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS
 
     The notes, loan agreements and certificate of incorporation of AFS contain
restrictions on the declaration or payment of cash dividends and on redemptions,
purchases or other acquisitions of stock. Under the most restrictive provision
at December 31, 1996, approximately $364.4 million of retained earnings was
available for dividends on common stock or for redemptions, purchases or other
acquisitions of stock. The notes and loan agreements also contain various
restrictive provisions regarding debt, the creation of liens or guarantees and
the making of investments.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   31
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 8: CERTAIN PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN NOTES, LOAN AGREEMENTS AND CERTIFICATE
        OF INCORPORATION AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS (CONTINUED)

     Maximum dividend limitations imposed by U.S. and foreign insurance
regulatory agencies and minimum capital requirements of various U.S. and foreign
regulatory agencies imposed on certain of AFS' finance operations restrict the
amount of certain subsidiaries' net assets which can be transferred to AFS. Such
restricted net assets totaled approximately $270 million at December 31, 1996.
 
NOTE 9: LEASE COMMITMENTS
 
     AFS' headquarters and regional executive offices are occupied under
noncancelable operating leases expiring on various dates through 2017. The loan
office locations through which operations are conducted are occupied under
noncancelable operating leases having terms generally not exceeding five years
with renewal options for an additional five years. Rental expense for such
leases and for leased equipment was approximately $51 million, $51 million and
$47 million in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Future minimum rental
commitments for all noncancelable operating leases in effect at December 31,
1996 approximate $36 million in 1997, $30 million in 1998, $25 million in 1999,
$20 million in 2000, $17 million in 2001 and $81 million thereafter.
 
NOTE 10: CONTINGENCIES
 
     There is pending or threatened litigation against AFS and its subsidiaries.
Among these lawsuits and proceedings are individual and class action proceedings
which seek compensatory, treble or punitive damages in substantial amounts.
These suits and proceedings are being defended or contested on behalf of AFS. On
the basis of information presently available, AFS believes that any such
liability from pending or threatened litigation will not have a material effect
on AFS' net income or financial condition.
 
     The laws of many states in which AFS' insurance subsidiaries are admitted
to do business require as a condition of admission that all insurance companies
so admitted collectively guarantee to policyholders the benefits payable under
policies issued by other insurance companies admitted in the particular state up
to statutory levels. AFS' insurance subsidiaries have not been required to date
to make any significant payments pursuant to such guarantees. While the amount
of any assessments which may be made in the future cannot be predicted, AFS does
not believe the total assessments, if any, will be material to its net income or
financial condition.
 
NOTE 11: POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS
 
     AFS has retirement plans, principally non-contributory (defined
contribution) which cover substantially all employees. Costs relating to these
plans, which are generally funded as accrued, amounted to approximately $17
million, $16 million and $15 million for 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
     AFS provides certain health care and life insurance benefits for its
employees and for certain retired employees. Such benefits are administered by
insurance companies or other carriers who determine premiums for insured plans
and expected costs to be paid during the year under self-insured plans. In 1989,
AFS began phasing out postretirement benefits for future retirees.
 
     AFS recognizes the cost of postretirement benefits using the accrual method
of accounting over the employees' years of service. Such costs for 1996, 1995
and 1994 were not material.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>   32
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 11: POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS (CONTINUED)

     AFS' postretirement benefit plans other than pensions currently are not
funded. The following table sets forth the status of AFS' retiree health care
and life insurance plans at December 31, 1996 and 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1996        1995
                                                                       -------     -------
                                                                          (Thousands of
                                                                            dollars)
    <S>                                                                <C>         <C>
    Actuarial present value of benefits attributed to:
      Retirees.......................................................  $23,149     $24,676
      Fully eligible active plan participants........................    5,056       5,414
      Other active plan participants.................................      777         309
                                                                       -------     -------
    Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation....................   28,982      30,399
    Unrecognized net actuarial gains.................................    6,479       4,539
                                                                       -------     -------
         Postretirement benefit liability recognized on the
           consolidated balance sheet................................  $35,461     $34,938
                                                                       =======     =======
</TABLE>
 
     An assumed discount rate of 7.5% for 1996, 8.25% for 1995 and 7.25% for
1994 was used to determine postretirement benefit costs other than pensions. An
assumed discount rate of 7.5% and 7.25% was used to determine the status of AFS'
plans at December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively. The weighted
average annual assumed rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered
benefits (that is, health care cost trend rate) is 7% for retirees age 65 and
over and 11% for retirees under age 65 in 1997, and both rates are assumed to
decrease gradually to 5.5% until 2001 and 2003, respectively, and remain at that
rate thereafter. Increasing these rates by one percentage point in each year
would have increased the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of
December 31, 1996 by $2.2 million and increased the aggregate of the service and
interest cost components of postretirement benefit costs for 1996 by $200,000.
 
NOTE 12:  QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
 
     Quarterly results of operations for the years ended December 31, 1996 and
1995 were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     1996                                            1995
                                 --------------------------------------------    --------------------------------------------
                                  First       Second      Third       Fourth      First       Second      Third       Fourth
                                 Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter
                                 --------    --------    --------    --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
                                                                    (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                              <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Revenues.......................  $432,249    $433,481    $442,088    $452,252    $397,595    $406,780    $420,607    $439,005
                                 ========    ========    ========    ========    ========    ========    ========    ========
Income before income taxes.....  $ 72,214    $ 75,372    $ 75,711    $ 75,262    $ 69,678    $ 69,551    $ 75,603    $ 72,627
Income taxes...................    27,005      28,486      28,233      27,828      26,349      26,027      28,527      27,153
                                 --------    --------    --------    --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
Net income.....................  $ 45,209    $ 46,886    $ 47,478    $ 47,434    $ 43,329    $ 43,524    $ 47,076    $ 45,474
                                 ========    ========    ========    ========    ========    ========    ========    ========
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 13: RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
     During 1990, AFS purchased $25.0 million of Textron Inc. common stock on
the open market. The investment is being carried in marketable equity
securities.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>   33
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 14: FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
     The following methods and assumptions were used in estimating the fair
value of AFS' financial instruments.
 
  Investments
 
     The estimated fair values of investment securities were based on quoted
market prices where available. If quoted market prices were not available, the
estimated fair values were based on independent appraisals, prices from
independent brokers or discounted cash flow analyses. Independent appraisals and
discounted cash flow analyses, using interest rates currently being offered for
similar loans to borrowers of similar credit quality, were generally used to
estimate the fair value of certain privately placed investments.
 
  Finance Receivables
 
     The estimated fair values of fixed rate consumer loans and real estate
loans were estimated based on discounted cash flow analyses using interest rates
currently being offered for similar loans to borrowers of similar credit
quality. Estimated future cash flows were adjusted for AFS' estimates of
prepayments, refinances, and loan losses based on internal historical data. The
estimated fair value of all variable rate receivables and fixed rate retail
installment contracts approximated the net carrying value of such receivables.
The fair values of AFS' leasing receivables and finance-related insurance
reserves and claims ($291.5 million and $272.8 million, net carrying value,
respectively, at December 31, 1996 and $263.9 million and $261.5 million,
respectively, at December 31, 1995) are not required to be disclosed under
generally accepted accounting principles.
 
  Debt and Interest Rate Exchange Agreements
 
     The estimated fair value of fixed rate debt was determined by independent
investment bankers. The fair values of variable rate debt and borrowings under
or supported by credit facilities approximated their carrying values. The
estimated fair values of interest rate exchange agreements were determined by
independent investment bankers as the estimated amounts that AFS would be
required to pay to a third party to assume AFS' obligations under the
agreements.
 
     The carrying values and estimated fair values of AFS' financial instruments
for which it is practicable to calculate a fair value are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             December 31, 1996            December 31, 1995
                                          ------------------------     ------------------------
                                                        Estimated                    Estimated
                                           Carrying        Fair         Carrying        Fair
                                            Value         Value          Value         Value
                                          ----------    ----------     ----------    ----------
                                                         (Thousands of dollars)
    <S>                                   <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>
    ASSETS:
    Investments.........................  $  927,571    $  927,571     $  852,450    $  852,450
                                          ==========    ==========     ==========    ==========
    Finance receivables.................  $6,471,011    $6,451,011     $6,474,263    $6,456,263
                                          ==========    ==========     ==========    ==========
 
    LIABILITIES:
    Debt:
    Variable rate debt..................  $3,989,901    $3,989,901     $3,310,181    $3,310,181
    Interest rate exchange agreements...                    18,811                          531
    Fixed rate debt.....................   2,413,447     2,443,804      2,855,256     2,930,534
                                          ----------    ----------     ----------    ----------
              Total debt................  $6,403,348    $6,452,516     $6,165,437    $6,241,246
                                          ==========    ==========     ==========    ==========
</TABLE>
 
                                       32
<PAGE>   34
 
ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
         FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
     Not applicable.
 
                                    PART III
 
ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
 
     Omitted in accordance with General Instruction J(2)(c).
 
ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     Omitted in accordance with General Instruction J(2)(c).
 
ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
     Omitted in accordance with General Instruction J(2)(c).
 
ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
     Omitted in accordance with General Instruction J(2)(c).
 
                                       33
<PAGE>   35
 
                                    PART IV
 
ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         PAGE
                                                                         ----
<C>       <S>                                                            <C>
 (a)1.    Index to Financial Statements

          Report of Independent Auditors...............................   12

          Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 1996 and 1995.....   13

          Consolidated Statement of Income for the three years ended
          December 31, 1996............................................   14

          Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three years
          ended December 31, 1996......................................   15

          Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholder's Equity for
          the three years ended December 31, 1996......................   16

          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements...................   17

    2.    Index to Financial Statement Schedules

          I.  Condensed Financial Information of the Registrant........  S-1

          All other schedules are omitted since the required information is
          not present or not present in amounts sufficient to require the
          submission of the schedules, or because the information required is
          included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes
          thereto.

   (b)    No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended December
          31, 1996.

   (c)    Exhibits

           *(3)    (a) Certificate of incorporation of the Registrant, as
                       amended.

                   (b) Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended.

            (4)    Instruments with respect to issues of long-term debt have
                   not been filed as exhibits to this Annual Report Form 10-K as
                   the authorized principal amount of any one of such issues
                   does not exceed 10% of the total assets of the Registrant and
                   its consolidated subsidiaries. Registrant agrees to furnish
                   to the Commission a copy of each such instrument upon
                   request. In addition, instruments with respect to issues of
                   long-term debt being registered have been filed as exhibits
                   to the Registrant's Registration Statement No. 33-55953, with
                   the respective form of note relating to specific issues filed
                   as an exhibit to the relevant current report on Form 8-K,
                   which are herein incorporated by reference.

          *(12)    Statement of Computation of Number of Times Fixed
                   Charges Earned.

           (21)    Omitted in accordance with General Instruction J(2)(b).

          *(23)    Consent of Independent Auditors.

          *(24)    Powers of Attorney.

          *(27)    Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
* Filed herewith.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>   36
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
                                              AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
Dated: March 27, 1997                         By        WARREN R. LYONS
                                                -------------------------------
                                                        Warren R. Lyons
                                                      Chairman (Principal 
                                                       Executive Officer)
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant and in the capacities indicated on March 27, 1997.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   SIGNATURE                                        TITLE
                   ---------                                        -----                    
<S>                                              <C>
 
               *WARREN R. LYONS                       Chairman of the Board of Directors
- ----------------------------------------------           (Principal Executive Officer)
                Warren R. Lyons

                *RONALD BUKOW                          Executive Vice President and Director
- ----------------------------------------------           (Principal Financial Officer)
                 Ronald Bukow                           
 
              *LEWIS B. CAMPBELL                       Director
- ----------------------------------------------
               Lewis B. Campbell
 
              *STEPHEN J. DAVIS                        Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
- ----------------------------------------------
               Stephen J. Davis
 
                *GARY L. FITE                          Executive Vice President, Controller and
- ----------------------------------------------           Director (Principal Accounting Officer)
                 Gary L. Fite                           
 
            *STEPHEN A. GILIOTTI                       Director
- ----------------------------------------------
             Stephen A. Giliotti
 
             *JAMES F. HARDYMON                        Director
- ----------------------------------------------
              James F. Hardymon
 
             *DAVID R. HEVIA                           Senior Vice President and Director
- ----------------------------------------------
              David R. Hevia
</TABLE>
 
                                       35
<PAGE>   37
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   SIGNATURE                                        TITLE
                   ---------                                        -----
<S>                                              <C>
 
              *WAYNE W. JUCHATZ                      Director
- ----------------------------------------------
               Wayne W. Juchatz
 
               *STEPHEN L. KEY                       Director
- ----------------------------------------------
                Stephen L. Key
 
             *WILLIAM J. PEARSON                     Executive Vice President and Director
- ----------------------------------------------
              William J. Pearson
 
              *MARK A. SCHIMBOR                      Executive Vice President and Director
- ----------------------------------------------
               Mark A. Schimbor
 
            *EUGENE R. SCHUTT, JR.                   Executive Vice President and Director
- ----------------------------------------------
             Eugene R. Schutt, Jr.
 
              *HERBERT F. SMITH                      Executive Vice President, Secretary and
- ----------------------------------------------         Director (General Counsel)
               Herbert F. Smith
 
              *JOHN C. SPENCE                        Director
- ----------------------------------------------
               John C. Spence
 
             *RICHARD A. WATSON                      Director
- ----------------------------------------------
              Richard A. Watson
 
*By           HERBERT F. SMITH
- ----------------------------------------------
         (Herbert F. Smith, on behalf
    of himself and as attorney-in-fact for
  each of the other persons indicated above)
</TABLE>
 
                                       36
<PAGE>   38
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
                                   SCHEDULE I
 
               CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             December 31,
                                                                      --------------------------
                                                                         1996           1995
                                                                      -----------    -----------
                                                                        (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                                                   <C>            <C>
BALANCE SHEET
ASSETS
Demand notes receivable from Avco Financial Services Group
  subsidiaries......................................................  $ 3,868,329    $ 3,807,690
Investments in subsidiaries, at equity..............................    1,468,045      1,443,003
Other...............................................................      167,655        129,293
                                                                      -----------    -----------
     Total assets...................................................  $ 5,504,029    $ 5,379,986
                                                                      ===========    ===========
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
Debt................................................................  $ 4,295,970    $ 4,293,732
Other...............................................................       55,373         58,024
                                                                      -----------    -----------
     Total liabilities..............................................    4,351,343      4,351,756
Stockholder's equity................................................    1,152,686      1,028,230
                                                                      -----------    -----------
     Total liabilities and stockholder's equity.....................  $ 5,504,029    $ 5,379,986
                                                                      ===========    ===========
</TABLE>
 
                             See accompanying note.
 
                                       S-1
<PAGE>   39
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
                                   SCHEDULE I
 
         CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT (CONTINUED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 Year ended December 31,
                                                          -------------------------------------
                                                            1996          1995          1994
                                                          ---------     ---------     ---------
                                                                 (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                                       <C>           <C>           <C>
STATEMENT OF INCOME
 
Revenues (primarily interest from Avco Financial
  Services Group subsidiaries)..........................  $ 268,171     $ 295,315     $ 231,116
Expenses (primarily interest expense)...................   (275,087)     (305,314)     (245,092)
                                                          ---------     ---------     ---------
Loss before items shown below...........................     (6,916)       (9,999)      (13,976)
Income tax benefits.....................................      2,378         3,450         4,868
Equity in income of subsidiaries........................    191,545       185,952       171,437
                                                          ---------     ---------     ---------
Net income..............................................  $ 187,007     $ 179,403     $ 162,329
                                                          =========     =========     =========
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income..............................................  $ 187,007     $ 179,403     $ 162,329
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
  by (used in) operating activities.....................    (34,611)        3,854        31,395
                                                          ---------     ---------     ---------
     Net cash provided by operating activities..........    152,396       183,257       193,724
                                                          ---------     ---------     ---------
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
(Increase) decrease in demand notes receivable..........    (35,004)       20,207      (450,704)
Increase in investments in subsidiaries.................    (12,607)       (9,784)     (122,505)
                                                          ---------     ---------     ---------
     Net cash provided/(used) by investing activities...    (47,611)       10,423      (573,209)
                                                          ---------     ---------     ---------
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
(Decrease)/increase in short-term debt..................    295,055      (426,815)      151,255
Proceeds from issuance of notes.........................    300,000       950,000       850,000
Principal payments on notes.............................   (604,940)     (626,765)     (540,770)
Dividends paid..........................................    (94,900)      (90,100)      (81,000)
                                                          ---------     ---------     ---------
     Net cash provided/(used) by financing activities...   (104,785)     (193,680)      379,485
                                                          ---------     ---------     ---------
Net change in cash......................................
Cash at beginning of year...............................
                                                          ---------     ---------     ---------
Cash at end of year.....................................  $      --     $      --     $      --
                                                          =========     =========     =========
</TABLE>
 
NOTE TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     The parent company is the primary financing entity for the U.S. Avco
Financial Services Group.
 
     See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for significant
accounting policies.
 
     The aggregate maturities, required prepayments, redemptions and sinking
fund requirements with respect to the Registrant's debt outstanding (excluding
commercial paper, bank notes and savings deposits) at December 31, 1996 for the
five years ending December 31, 2001 were (in millions): $600.0 in 1997; $333.7
in 1998; $434.9 in 1999; $525.0 in 2000; and $200.0 in 2001.
 
     At December 31, 1996 and 1995, the parent company was guarantor for payment
of all its foreign subsidiaries' commercial paper and bank line borrowings of
$1.261 billion and $1.223 billion, respectively, and senior notes of $1.337
billion and $1.148 billion, respectively.
 
     The Registrant received cash dividends from its subsidiaries aggregating
$187.6 million in 1996, $194.6 million in 1995, and $45.5 million in 1994.
 
                                       S-2

<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 3(a)

                                                           STATE OF DELAWARE
                                                           SECRETARY OF STATE
                                                        DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS
                                                       FILED 09:00 AM 12/30/1996
                                                           960388624 - 0613412

            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

Pursuant to Section 242 of the Delaware Corporation Law

It is hereby certified that:

        1.      The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the
"corporation") is Avco Financial Services, Inc.

        2.      The certificate of incorporation of the corporation is hereby
amended by amending FOURTH to read as follows:

        FOURTH:  The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation
shall have authority to issue is Five hundred thousand (500,000). All said
shares shall be of a class designated as Common Stock with a par value of One
Dollar ($1) each. The holders of the Common Stock shall possess full voting
power for the election of directors and all other purposes, and shall, subject
to the provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware relating to the fixing
of the record date, be entitled to one (1) vote for each share held by them,
respectively, for all purposes.

Signed and attested to on December 27, 1996.

                                                    /s/ HERBERT F. SMITH
                                                  ------------------------
                                                     Herbert F. Smith,
                                                  Executive Vice President 

Attest:


        /s/ LAILA B. SOARES
- ------------------------------------
Laila B. Soares, Assistant Secretary

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

COUNTY OF ORANGE

        BE IT REMEMBERED that on December 27, 1996, before me, a Notary Public
duly authorized by law to take acknowledgment of deeds, personally came Herbert
F. Smith, Executive Vice President of Avco Financial Services, Inc. who duly
signed the foregoing instrument before me and acknowledged that such signing is
his act and deed, that such instrument as executed is the act and deed of said
corporation, and that the facts stated therein are true.

GIVEN under my hand on December 27, 1996.


          [illegible]
- ------------------------------------
         Notary Public


[seal]

<PAGE>   2



                                     [LOGO]


                                     STATE
                                       OF
                                    DELAWARE

                          Office of SECRETARY OF STATE

        I, Robert H. Reed, Secretary of State of the State of Delaware,
do hereby certify that the above and foregoing corresponds with and includes
all the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the "AVCO FINANCIAL
SERVICES, INC.", as received and filed in this office the seventeenth day of
July, A.D. 1964, at 10 o'clock A.M. as amended and in effect August 13, 1975.



                In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and official
                seal at Dover this thirteenth day of August in the year of our
                Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventy-five.



                                        /s/  ROBERT H. REED
                           ----------------------------------------------------
                           Robert H. Reed          Secretary of State

          [LOGO]           

                                        /s/  GROVER A. BIDDLE
                           ----------------------------------------------------
                           Grover A. Biddle        Assistant Secretary of State


FORM 122
<PAGE>   3
                                                                        PAGE 1



                               STATE OF DELAWARE

                        OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

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



        I, MICHAEL RATCHFORD, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO
HEREBY CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION OF "AVCO DELTA FINANCIAL CORPORATION" FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE
SEVENTEENTH DAY OF JULY, A.D. 1964, AT 10 O'CLOCK A.M.


                          *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *


                                        /s/  MICHAEL RATCHFORD
                                        -------------------------------------
                     [LOGO]             Michael Ratchford, Secretary of State

                                        AUTHENTICATION: *3693515

923455205                                         DATE: 12/10/1992
<PAGE>   4
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                       OF

                        AVCO DELTA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

        WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, for the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant
to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, do hereby certify as
follows:

        FIRST.  The name of the corporation is

                       AVCO DELTA FINANCIAL CORPORATION.

        SECOND.  The corporation's principal office in the State of Delaware is
located at 100 West Tenth Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New
Castle.  The name and address of its resident agent is The Corporation Trust
Company, 100 West Tenth Street, Wilmington 99, Delaware.

        THIRD.  The nature of the business, or objects or purposes to be
transacted, promoted or carried on by the corporation are:

        To purchase or otherwise acquire, hold, deal in and with, discount,
collect, realize on, negotiate, pledge, charge, hypothecate, sell, transfer or
otherwise dispose of, and turn to account and lend money on the security of,
conditional sale agreements, promissory notes, lien notes, chattel mortgages,
trade paper, bills of lading, warehouse receipts, bills of exchange, choses in
action and other securities.

        To guarantee, with or without security, the performance of any
contracts, obligations or undertakings of any other person, firm, association
or corporation, including the payment of dividends or interest on and principal
and premium, if any, of shares of capital stock, bonds, debentures, debenture
stock and other securities, notes, obligations and liabilities of such person,
firm, association or corporation, and to accept as security for any loans and
guarantees made or given by the corporation any security that may be offered by
any person, firm, association or corporation, including shares of capital
stock, bonds, debentures, debenture stock and other securities, and mortgages,
pledges, liens and other charges of or upon the property of

<PAGE>   5
of such person, firm, association or corporation.

        To manufacture, purchase or otherwise acquire, invest in, own,
mortgage, pledge, sell, assign and transfer or otherwise dispose of, trade,
deal in and with goods, wares and merchandise and personal property of every
class and description.

        To acquire, and pay for in cash, stock or bonds of the corporation or
otherwise, the good will, rights, assets and property, and to undertake or
assume the whole, or any part of the obligations or liabilities, of any person,
firm, association or corporation.

        To acquire, hold, use, sell, assign, lease, grant licenses in respect
of, mortgage or otherwise dispose of letters patent of the United States or any
foreign country, patent rights, licenses and privileges, inventions,
improvements and processes, copyrights, trade-marks and trade names, relating
to or useful in connection with any business of the corporation.

        To acquire by purchase, subscription or otherwise, and to receive,
hold, own, guarantee, sell, assign, exchange, transfer, mortgage, pledge or
otherwise dispose of or deal in and with any of the shares of the capital
stock, or any voting trust certificates in respect of the shares of capital
stock, scrip, warrants, rights, bonds, debentures, notes, trust receipts, and
other securities, obligations, choses in action and evidences of indebtedness
or interest issued or created by any corporations, joint stock companies,
syndicates, associations, firms, trusts or persons, public or private, or by the
government, or by any state, territory, province, municipality or other
political subdivision or by any governmental agency, and as owner thereof to
possess and exercise all the rights, powers and privileges of ownership,
including the right to execute consents and vote thereon, and to do any and all
acts and things necessary or advisable for the preservation, protection, 
improvement and enhancement in value thereof.

        To enter into, make and perform contracts of every kind and description
with any person, firm, association, corporation, municipality, county, state,
body politic or government or colony or dependency thereof.

        To borrow or raise moneys for any of the purposes of the corporation 
and, from time to time without limit as




                                      -2-
<PAGE>   6
to amount, to draw, make, accept, endorse, execute and issue promissory notes,
drafts, bills of exchange, warrants, bonds, debentures and other negotiable or
non-negotiable instruments and evidences of indebtedness, and to secure the
payment of any thereof and of the interest thereon by mortgage upon or pledge,
conveyance or assignment in trust of the whole or any part of the property of
the corporation, whether at the time owned or thereafter acquired, and to sell,
pledge or otherwise dispose of such bonds or other obligations of the
corporation for its corporate purposes.

        To loan to any person, firm or corporation any of the surplus funds of
the corporation, either with or without security.

        To purchase, hold, sell and transfer shares of its own capital stock;
provided that the corporation shall not use its funds or property for the
purchase of its own shares of capital stock where such use would be otherwise
prohibited by law, and provided, further, that shares of its own capital stock
belonging to it shall not be voted upon directly or indirectly.

        To have one or more offices, to carry on all or any of its operations
and business and, without restriction or limit as to amount, to purchase or
otherwise acquire, hold, own, mortgage, sell, convey or otherwise dispose of,
real and personal property of every class and description in any of the states,
districts, territories or colonies of the United States, and in any and all
foreign countries, subject to the laws of such state, district, territory,
colony or country.

        In general, to carry on any other business in connection with the
foregoing, and to have and exercise all the powers conferred by the laws of the
State of Delaware upon corporations formed under the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware, and to do any or all of the things hereinbefore set
forth to the same extent as natural persons might or could do.

        The objects and purposes specified in the foregoing clauses shall,
except where otherwise expressed, be in nowise limited or restricted by
reference to, or inference from, the terms of any other clause in this
certificate of incorporation, but the objects and purposes specified in each of
the foregoing clauses of this article shall be regarded as independent objects
and purposes.

        FOURTH.  The total number of shares of stock which the corporation
shall have authority to issue is one thousand



                                      -3-
<PAGE>   7
(1,000) and all of such shares shall be without par value. All such shares are
of one class, and the holders thereof shall have no pre-emptive rights of
subscription in the event the corporation issues additional equity shares.

        FIFTH.  The minimum amount of capital with which the corporation will
commence business is One Thousand Dollars ($1,000).

        SIXTH.  The names and places of residence of the incorporators are as
follows: 

    NAMES                       RESIDENCES
    -----                       ----------

S. H. Livesay               Wilmington, Delaware
J. F. Cook                  Wilmington, Delaware
A. D. Grier                 Wilmington, Delaware

        SEVENTH.  The corporation is to have perpetual existence.

        EIGHTH.   The private property of the stockholders of the corporation
shall not be subject to the payment of corporate debts to any extent whatever.

        NINTH.    In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred
by law, the board of directors of the corporation is expressly authorized:

        To make, alter or repeal the by-laws of the corporation.

        To set apart out of any of the funds of the corporation available for
dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and to abolish any such
reserve in the manner in which it was created.

                By resolution passed by a majority of the whole board, to
designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of two or more of
the directors of the corporation, which committees, to the extent provided in
the resolution or in the by-laws of the corporation, shall have and may
exercise the powers of the board of directors in the management of the business
and affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation
to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Such committees shall have
such name or names


                                      -4-
<PAGE>   8
as may be stated in the by-laws of the corporation or as may be determined from
time to time by resolution adopted by the board of directors.

        When and as authorized by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of each class of stock issued and outstanding having voting power
given at a stockholders' meeting duly called for that purpose, or when
authorized by the written consent of the holders of a majority of each class of
voting stock issued and outstanding, to sell, lease or exchange all of the
property and assets of the corporation, including its good will and its
corporate franchises, upon such terms and conditions and for such
consideration, which may be in whole or in part shares of stock in, and/or
other securities of, any other corporation or corporations, as its board of
directors shall deem expedient and for the best interests of the corporation.

        TENTH.  Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this
corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this
corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable
jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary
way of this corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof, or on the
application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation under
the provisions of Section 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or on the
application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers
appointed for this corporation under the provisions of Section 279 of Title 8
of the Delaware Code order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors,
and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this corporation, as the
case may be to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs. If a
majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or
class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this
corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to
any reorganization of this corporation as consequence of such compromise or
arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization
shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application has been made,
be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the
stockholders or class of stockholders, of this corporation, as the case may be,
and also on this corporation.

        ELEVENTH.  Meetings of stockholders may be held outside the State of
Delaware, if the by-laws so provide. The books of the corporation may be kept
(subject to any applicable provision of law) outside the State of Delaware at
such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the board of
directors or in the by-laws of the corporation. Elections of directors need not
be by ballot unless the by-laws of the corporation shall so provide.       


                                      -5-
<PAGE>   9
        TWELFTH.  The corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or
repeal any provision contained in this certificate of incorporation, by the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of each class of stock
issued and outstanding in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law, and all
rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this
reservation.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we, the undersigned, being all of the incorporators
hereinabove named, have hereunto set our hands and seals this 17th day of July,
A. D. 1964.

                                                /s/ S. H. Livesay         (L.S.)
                                                --------------------------------

                                                /s/ J. F. Cook            (L.S.)
                                                --------------------------------

                                                /s/ A. D. Grier           (L.S.)
                                                --------------------------------


                                      -6-
<PAGE>   10



STATE OF DELAWARE     )
                      ) SS.
                      )
COUNTY OF NEW CASTLE  )

        

        BE IT REMEMBERED that on this 17th day of July, A.D. 1964, personally
came before me, a Notary Public in and for the State of Delaware, S. H.
Livesay, J. F. Cook, and A. D. Grier all of the parties to the foregoing
certificate of incorporation, known to me personally to be such, and they did
severally acknowledge the said certificate to be the act and deed of the
signers, respectively, and that the facts therein stated are truly set forth.

        GIVEN under my hand and seal of office the day and year aforesaid.



                                   /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
                                ------------------------- 
                                       Notary Public



                                                 [NOTARY PUBLIC SEAL]

<PAGE>   11


                                                                    Page 1

                               STATE OF DELAWARE

                        OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE



        I MICHAEL RATCHFORD, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO
HEREBY CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF
AMENDMENT BEFORE PAYMENT FOR STOCK OF "AVCO DELTA FINANCIAL CORPORATION" FILED
IN THIS OFFICE ON THE TWENTIETH DAY OF AUGUST, A.D. 1964, AT 2:30 O'CLOCK P.M.

                              * * * * * * * * * *



                                                 /s/ MICHAEL RATCHFORD
                                        --------------------------------------
                                        Michael Ratchford, Secretary of State
               [SECRETARY OF STATE
                     SEAL]                    AUTHENTICATION:   *3693514
                                                        DATE:    12/10/1992



923455205

<PAGE>   12


                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

                                       OF

                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                           BEFORE PAYMENT OF CAPITAL

                                       OF

                        AVCO DELTA FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                                    * * * *

        We, the undersigned, being all of the incorporators of AVCO DELTA
FINANCIAL CORPORATION, a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue
of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:

        FIRST: That the first Article of the certificate of incorporation be
and it hereby is amended to read as follows:

        FIRST.  The name of the corporation is

                             AVCO DELTA CORPORATION

        SECOND:  That no part of the capital of said corporation has been paid.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have signed this certificate this 17th day of
August, 1964.


                                         /s/ S. H. Livesay
                                        ------------------------------
                                        S. H. Livesay

                                         /s/ J. F. COOK
                                        ------------------------------
                                        J. F. Cook

                                         /s/ A. D. GRIER
                                        ------------------------------
                                        A. D. Grier






<PAGE>   13
STATE OF DELAWARE       )
                        )  SS:
COUNTY OF NEW CASTLE    )


        BE IT REMEMBERED that on this 17th day of August, 1964, personally came
before me, a Notary Public for the State of Delaware, S. H. LIVESAY, J.F. COOK
and A. D. GRIER, all of the incorporators of the foregoing corporation, known
to me personally to be such and severally acknowledged the said amended
certificate to be the act and deed of the signers respectively, and that the
facts therein stated are truly set forth.

        GIVEN under my hand and seal of office the day and year aforesaid.

                                        
                                                   /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
                                           ------------------------------
                                                     Notary Public



                                                                  [SEAL]
<PAGE>   14
                               STATE OF DELAWARE
                                                                        PAGE 1
                        OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
                        ________________________________




        I, MICHAEL RATCHFORD, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO
HEREBY CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF
AMENDMENT OF "AVCO DELTA CORPORATION" FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE TWENTY-FIRST
DAY OF APRIL, A.D. 1971, AT 1 O'CLOCK P.M.

                              * * * * * * * * * *








                                             /s/ MICHAEL RATCHFORD
                            [SEAL]     ---------------------------------------- 
                                        Michael Ratchford, Secretary of State
    
                                       AUTHENTICATION: *3693513

923455205                                        DATE: 12/10/1992
                                        
<PAGE>   15
                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

                                     of the

                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                       of

                             AVCO DELTA CORPORATION



        AVCO DELTA CORPORATION, a corporation organized and existing under and
by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, does hereby
certify as follows:

        A.      An amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation has, in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, been duly proposed and
declared to be advisable by the Board of Directors of the Corporation in a duly
adopted resolution of said Board setting forth the amendment proposed and the
stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote in respect thereof have given
their unanimous written consent to said amendment in accordance with the
provisions of Section 228 of said General Corporation Law, amending the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation in its entirety so that said
Certificate as so amended shall read as follows:

        FIRST:  The name of the corporation (hereinafter referred to as the
Corporation) is

                             AVCO DELTA CORPORATION

        SECOND:  The Corporation's registered office in the State of Delaware is
located at 100 West Tenth Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New
Castle. The name and address of its registered agent at such address is The
Corporation Trust Company, 100 West Tenth Street, Wilmington, Delaware.

        THIRD:  The nature of the business, or objects or purposes to be
transacted, promoted or carried on by the Corporation are:

        (a)  To engage in the business of loaning money with or without
security and in any amount deemed advisable, for the purpose of earning
interest on said loans, or otherwise, and to engage in the business of
negotiating, guaranteeing, or endorsing loans in any amount with or without
security for the purpose of charging fees therefor, or otherwise.

        (b)  To engage in any other lawful act or activity for which
corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.


<PAGE>   16
                                       2


        FOURTH:  The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall
have authority to issue is One million five hundred thousand (1,500,000). Of
said shares, Five hundred thousand (500,000) shall be of a class designated as
Preferred Stock without par value and One million (1,000,000) shares shall be of
a class designated as Common Stock with a par value of One Dollar ($1) each.

        The description of the Preferred Stock and Common Stock, and the voting
powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional and
other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions
thereof are as hereinafter in this Article FOURTH set forth:

                       DIVISION A -- THE PREFERRED STOCK

        1.  Series and Variations Between Series:  The Preferred Stock may be
issued from time to time in series as may from time to time be determined by
resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors of this Corporation and the
Board of Directors is hereby expressly vested with authority to provide by
resolution or resolutions for the issue of the Preferred Stock in series with
variations between series and with such designations, preferences and relative,
participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations
or restrictions thereof as shall be stated and expressed in such resolution or
resolutions, including (but without limitation) one or more of the following
particulars:

        (a)  The designation of such series, which may be distinguishing
number, letter or title:

        (b)  The rate (to be expressed in terms of dollars) at which dividends
are to be payable and to accrue in respect of the shares of such series,
hereinafter referred to as the "fixed dividend rate";

        (c)  The amount (to be expressed in terms of dollars) payable in
respect of the shares of such series, in addition to dividends accrued or in
arrears, upon a voluntary liquidation, dissolution, winding up or reduction of
capital of this Corporation, which amount in respect of any series may, but
need not, vary according to the time or circumstances of such action, the
amount or amounts so fixed as of any given time or for any given period being
hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "fixed voluntary liquidation amount";

        (d)  The amount (to be expressed in terms of dollars) payable in
respect of the shares of such series, in addition to dividends accrued


 
<PAGE>   17
                                       3


or in arrears, upon an involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding up or
reduction of capital of this Corporation, the amount so fixed being hereinafter
sometimes referred to as the "fixed involuntary liquidation amount"; 

        (e)     The amount, if any (to be expressed in terms of dollars),
payable in respect of the shares of such series, in addition to dividends
accrued or in arrears, in case of the redemption thereof, which amount in
respect of any series may, but need not, vary according to the time or
circumstances of such action, the amount or amounts so fixed as of any given
time or for any given period being hereinafter sometimes referred to as the
"fixed voluntary redemption price";

        (f)     The right, if any, of the holders of shares of such series to
convert the same into or exchange the same for shares of Common Stock of the
Corporation, and the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange;

        (g)     The provisions, if any, for a sinking or purchase fund
(including any fund or requirement for the periodic retirement of shares) with
respect to the shares of such series;

Provided, however, that such variations shall not be inconsistent with the
provisions of this Article FOURTH applicable to all series of the Preferred
Stock or with the laws of Delaware.

        If and whenever from time to time the Board of Directors shall determine
to issue Preferred Stock of any series, it shall, prior to the issuance of any
shares of each such series, by resolution or resolutions fix the terms of such
series and shall cause the same to be set forth or summarized in the
certificates therefor and to be set forth in such additional certificate or
certificates, if any, as shall at the time be required by law.

        2.      Dividends:  The holders of the Preferred Stock of each series
shall be entitled to receive, out of any funds of the Corporation lawfully
available for dividends under the laws of the State of Delaware, if, when, and
as declared by the Board of Directors in its discretion, preferential cumulative
dividends in cash at the fixed dividend rate for such series and no more,
payable quarterly as herinafter provided, before any dividends shall be declared
or paid upon, or set apart for, or other distribution shall be ordered or made
in respect of the Common Stock. Such dividends on the Preferred Stock shall be
payable on the tenth day of January, April, July and October in each year (the
periods between




<PAGE>   18
                                       4


such dates, commencing on such dates, being hereby designated as "dividend
periods").  Dividends on all shares of each series shall be cumulative from the
first day of the dividend period in which the first shares of such series shall
have been originally issued, so that, if full cumulative dividends on all the
outstanding Preferred Stock at the rate or rates aforesaid for all past dividend
periods and also full cumulative dividends on such stock for the then current
dividend period shall not have been paid thereon or declared and a sum
sufficient for the payment thereof set apart, the amount of the deficiency (but
without interest thereon) shall be fully paid or dividends upon the Preferred
Stock in such amount shall be declared and a sum sufficient for the payment
thereof set apart before any dividends shall be declared or paid upon, or set
apart for, or any other distribution shall be ordered or made in respect of the
Common Stock and before any sums shall be paid or set apart for the redemption
of less than all of the Preferred Stock then outstanding or for the purchase or
retirement of any of the Preferred Stock or the Common Stock. In the event of
the issue of additional shares of the Preferred Stock of any series subsequent
to the date of the issue of the first shares of such series, all dividends paid
on the Preferred Stock of such series prior to the issue of such additional
shares and all dividends payable to the holders of record of Preferred Stock of
such series of a date prior to such issue shall be deemed to have been paid in
respect of the additional shares so issued.  Any dividends paid upon the
Preferred Stock in an amount less than full cumulative dividends accrued or in
arrears upon all Preferred Stock outstanding shall, if more than one series be
outstanding, be divided between the different series in proportion to the
aggregate amounts which would be distributable to the Preferred Stock of each
series if full cumulative dividends were declared and paid thereon.

        3.  Liquidation Rights and Preferences:  In the event of any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, or any reduction of
its capital resulting in any distribution of its assets to its stockholders,
the holders of each series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, for
each share thereof, out of the assets of the Corporation whether from capital,
surplus or earnings, available for distribution to its stockholders an amount
equal to the fixed involuntary liquidation amount applicable to each share of
such series if such liquidation, dissolution, winding up or reduction of
capital shall have been involuntary, and equal to the then current fixed
voluntary liquidation amount applicable to each share of such series if such
liquida- 
<PAGE>   19
                                       5



tion, dissolution, winding up or reduction of capital shall have been
voluntary, together in each case with an amount equal to all dividends accrued
or in arrears thereon, whether or not earned, before any distribution of assets
of the Corporation shall be made to the holders of the Common Stock; but the
holders of the Preferred Stock shall be entitled to no further participation in
such distribution.  If, upon any such liquidation, dissolution, winding up or
reduction of capital, the assets of the Corporation, distributable as aforesaid
among the holders of the Preferred Stock, shall be insufficient to permit of
the payment to them of the full preferential amounts aforesaid, then the entire
assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders shall be
distributed ratably among the holders of the Preferred Stock in proportion to
the full preferential amounts to which they are respectively entitled.  As used
herein, the expression "dividends accrued or in arrears" means, in respect of
each share of the Preferred Stock, an amount equal to the fixed dividend rate
per annum for such share (without interest thereon), from the date from which
cumulative dividends commenced to accrue in respect to such share to the date
as of which the computation is to be made, less the aggregate amount (without
interest) of all dividends theretofore paid (or deemed to have been paid)
thereon, or declared and set aside for payment in respect thereof.  A
consolidation or merger of the Corporation with any other corporation or
corporations shall not be regarded as a liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the Corporation within the meaning of this Paragraph 3, unless such
consolidation or merger shall substantially impair the rights and preferences
of the Preferred Stock in which event it shall be considered as a voluntary
liquidation; nor shall any purchase or redemption of Preferred Stock or the
purchase of Common Stock in any manner herein authorized or permitted be
considered as a reduction of capital within the meaning of this Paragraph 3.

        4.  Redemption and Purchase of Preferred Stock:  The Corporation may,
at its option, expressed by resolution of its Board of Directors, or for the
purposes of the sinking or purchase fund for any series, at any time or from
time to time redeem the whole or any part of the Preferred Stock, or the whole
or any part of any series thereof, at a price for each share so to be redeemed
equal to the sum of the then current fixed voluntary redemption price
applicable to such share if such redemption be voluntary at the option of the
Corporation, or, in the case of any redemption for the purposes of any sinking
or purchase fund, at the then applicable sinking or purchase fund redemp-

<PAGE>   20
                                       6


tion price as provided in the resolution or resolutions of the Board of
Directors providing for a sinking or purchase fund for such series of the
Preferred Stock, plus, in any case, all dividends accrued or in arrears
thereon, whether or not earned. Notice of the intention of the Corporation to
redeem shares of the Preferred Stock and of the date and place of redemption
shall be given by the Corporation by mailing a copy of such notice at least
forty-five (45) days prior to the date fixed for such redemption to the holders
of record of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses
appearing on the books of the Corporation. If less than all shares of any
series of the Preferred Stock is to be redeemed as herein provided, the
redemption shall be made in such amount, at such place, by such method, either
by lot or pro rata, and subject to such provisions of convenience as shall,
from time to time, be provided by the By-laws of the Corporation or be
determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. From and after the date
fixed in any such notice as the date of redemption, unless default shall be
made by the Corporation in providing moneys at the time and place specified for
the payment of the redemption price pursuant to said notice, all dividends on
the shares of Preferred Stock thereby called for redemption shall cease to
accrue; and, from and after the date so fixed (unless default be made as
aforesaid) or from and after the date of the earlier deposit by the Corporation
in a special account with a solvent bank or trust company of funds sufficient
for such redemption (a statement of the intention so to deposit having been
included in said notice), all rights of the holders of said shares of Preferred
Stock so called for redemption as stockholders of the Corporation, except only
(a) the right to receive the redemption price, or (b) if such shares shall be
convertible into Common Stock, the right to convert such shares into shares of
Common Stock prior to the close of business on the date fixed for such
redemption, shall cease and determine, and such shares shall be deemed no
longer to be outstanding. Any moneys so deposited for the purpose of said
redemption and not required therefor because of the conversion of the shares of
Preferred Stock for the redemption of which said moneys were deposited, shall
forthwith, upon demand by the Corporation after the redemption date, be paid by
the depositary to the Corporation, and any other moneys deposited for such
redemption which shall remain unclaimed by the holders of such Preferred Stock
at the end of six (6) years after the redemption date, shall, at the conclusion
of such six-year period, be paid by the depositary to the 



                                       
<PAGE>   21
                                       7


Corporation, in either case together with any interest thereon that shall have
been allowed by the bank or trust company with which the deposit shall have
been made. No redemption of Preferred Stock, as herein provided, shall be made
or ordered unless full cumulative dividends at the applicable fixed dividend
rate or rates hereinabove specified, upon all Preferred Stock then outstanding
which is not to be redeemed from the date upon which dividends thereon became
cumulative to the end of the then current dividend period shall have been paid
(or deemed to have been paid) or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment
thereof set apart.

        So long as (a) all cumulative dividends on the Preferred Stock are paid
or declared and set apart for payment for all past dividend periods, and the
dividend is either paid or declared and set apart for payment for the current
dividend period, (b) all funds at the time required to be paid or set apart for
the sinking or purchase funds, if any, provided by resolution or resolutions of
the Board of Directors for any series of Preferred Stock have been paid or set
apart, and (c) the Corporation shall not be otherwise in default as provided in
this Article Fourth, then, and in such events, the Corporation shall have the
right at any time, or from time to time, to purchase out of funds legally
available for such purpose, Preferred Stock, either at public or private sale,
at not exceeding the then current fixed voluntary redemption price applicable
to such shares, plus accrued dividends and plus an amount equal to the usual
and customary brokerage commissions payable in connection with the purchase
thereof: provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not be
applicable to prevent the Corporation from utilizing any funds then set apart
for any sinking or purchase fund for the purchase of Preferred Stock; and
provided, further, that, so long as any shares of Preferred Stock remain
outstanding, the Corporation shall not purchase or retire any shares of Common
Stock or any shares of any class of stock, whether now or hereafter authorized,
ranking in payment of dividends or distribution of assets subordinate to the
Preferred Stock unless required by law in connection with corporate action,
except as authorized or permitted by the provisions of Paragraph 1 of Division
B hereof.

        Shares of Preferred Stock redeemed or purchased, or otherwise acquired
by the Corporation, may be cancelled and retired or shall retain the status of
authorized shares.

        5. Voting Rights and Restrictions on Certain Corporate Action: Except
as hereinafter in this Paragraph 5 expressly provided, the
<PAGE>   22
                                       8


holders of the Preferred Stock shall, together with the holders of the Common
Stock (neither class voting as a class), possess full voting rights for the
election of directors and for all other purposes, and for such purposes the
holders of the Preferred Stock shall, subject to the provisions of the By-laws
of the Corporation and of the statutes of the State of Delaware relating to the
fixing of the record date, be entitled to one vote for each share held by them
respectively. 

        Anything hereinbefore to the contrary notwithstanding, in case at any
time the Corporation shall fail to declare and pay or declare and set apart for
payment in full any quarter yearly dividend on any shares of Preferred Stock
and shall not, on or before the fourth succeeding quarter yearly dividend
payment date, have paid or declared and set apart for payment in full such
dividend, and also all subsequently accruing dividends on all the outstanding
Preferred Stock, then the holders of the Preferred Stock shall, thereupon, have
the right, voting as one class to the exclusion of the holders of the Common
Stock, by plurality vote, to elect such number of directors of the Corporation
as shall constitute one-third of the entire number of directors the Corporation
is then authorized to have (any fraction less than one-half to be disregarded
and any fraction of one-half or more to be considered as one), and such right
shall continue (and may be exercised at any annual or other meeting of
stockholders for the election of Directors) until all accrued dividends on the
Preferred Stock shall have been paid or declared and set apart for payment;
and, during the continuance of such right of the Preferred stockholders, the
holders of the Common Stock, voting as another class to the exclusion of the
Preferred stockholders, shall have the right, by plurality vote, to elect the
remaining members of the Board of Directors. The term of office of all persons
who may be Directors of the Corporation at any time when such rights shall
accrue to the holders of the Preferred Stock shall terminate upon the election
(followed by qualification) of their successors at a special meeting of the
stockholders of the Corporation which shall be held, at any time after the
accrual of such right, upon the notice provided in the By-laws of the
Corporation for the annual meeting of the stockholders, at the request in
writing of the holders of record of at least five per cent. (5%) of the number
of shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding. In default of the calling of
said meeting by a proper officer of the Corporation, within thirty (30) days
after the making of such request, such meeting may be called on like notice by
the holders of record of at least five per cent. (5%) of the Preferred Stock,
for which pur-
<PAGE>   23
pose such Preferred stockholders shall have the right to have access to the
stock books of the Corporation. If such special meeting be not called prior to
the next annual meeting, the Preferred stockholders, voting as one class to the
exclusion of the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to elect at such
annual meeting a number of the Directors of the Corporation as above provided,
and the Common stockholders, as a second class, shall be entitled to elect the
remaining Directors at such annual meeting unless previous thereto all such
dividend defaults shall have been cured. Upon the termination at any time of
such right of the Preferred stockholders to elect Directors, the term of office
of all Directors then in office shall end upon the election (followed by
qualification) of their successors by the Preferred stockholders and the Common
stockholders, voting together but not by classes, which election may be held on
like notice at a special meeting of the stockholders called at the request in
writing of the holders of record of at least five per cent. (5%) of the number
of shares of the Corporation then outstanding or, if such special meeting is
not called prior to the next annual meeting, at such next annual meeting; and
such special meeting may be called by the holders of record of at least five
per cent. (5%) of the outstanding shares, if not called promptly by a proper
officer of the Corporation upon such request, for which purpose such holders
shall have access to the stock books of the Corporation.

        In addition to any other approvals or consents herein required, or
required by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Corporation shall not
without the consent of the holders of record of at least two-thirds of the
shares of Preferred Stock of the Corporation at the time outstanding, given
either by their affirmative vote as a separate class at a meeting called for
that purpose or in writing without a meeting,

        (a) authorize any stock or class of stock or obligation or security
convertible into stock having priority or preference over, or ranking on a
parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends or assets, or authorize any
additional Preferred Stock; or

        (b) amend the provisions hereof or of any resolution or resolutions
adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 1 of
this Division A so as to affect adversely any of the preferences or other
rights given to the Preferred Stock; provided, however, that if any such
amendment would affect adversely one or more, but not all series of Preferred
Stock at the time outstanding, the consent of the holders of record of at
<PAGE>   24
least two-thirds of the shares of each such series so affected, similarly
given, each voting as a separate series, shall be required in lieu of the
consent of the holders of record of two-thirds of the shares of Preferred Stock
voting as a class; or

        (c) issue any shares of Preferred Stock, provided that no such consent
for the issue of shares of the Preferred Stock either of any outstanding series
or of any new series shall be required if, (i) prior to the issue thereof and
prior to the adoption of the resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing
each such additional issue of Preferred Stock, the President or Treasurer of
the Corporation shall have certified to said Board, and each such resolution
shall declare it to be the opinion of the Board of Directors, that the
consolidated net earnings of the Corporation (as hereinafter defined) for a
period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months out of the fifteen (15)
consecutive calendar months immediately preceding the month in which the
issuance of additional shares of Preferred Stock is authorized, shall have been
equal to at least three (3) times the annual dividend requirements on all
shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding, and on any shares of any class of
stock having preference or priority over or ranking on a parity with the
Preferred Stock as to dividends and/or assets, and on the shares of Preferred
Stock proposed to be issued; (ii) immediately after the issue thereof the net
worth of the Corporation (as hereinafter defined) shall be in excess of 200% of
the fixed involuntary liquidating amount of each share of Preferred Stock then
outstanding and of each share of any class of stock having preference or
priority over or ranking on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends
or assets and of each share of Preferred Stock proposed to be issued; (iii)
immediately after the issue thereof the consolidated net current assets of the
Corporation (as hereinafter defined) shall be in excess of 150% of the fixed
involuntary liquidating amount of each share of Preferred Stock then
outstanding and of each share of any class of stock having preference or
priority over or ranking on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends
or assets and of each share of Preferred Stock proposed to be issued; and (iv)
full cumulative dividends for all past dividend periods and the then current
dividend period on the Preferred Stock shall have been paid or declared and set
apart for payment; or

        (d) merge or consolidate with any other corporation or sell, lease or
transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets if such
transaction would affect adversely any of the
<PAGE>   25
                                       11


        preferences or other rights of the Preferred Stock or the holders
        thereof, except that the Corporation may merge or consolidate, or sell
        or dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, provided that (i)
        the Corporation shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or the
        successor or acquiring corporation shall be organized under the laws of
        any state of the United States of America, and (ii) the Corporation as
        the continuing or surviving corporation or the successor or acquiring
        corporation, as the case may be, shall not, immediately after such
        merger or consolidation, or such sale or other disposition, be in
        default under any of the provisions of this Paragraph 5; and (iii) the
        surviving corporation, in the event of a consolidation or merger, will
        be a corporation primarily engaged in the finance business.

        Provided, however, that the exercise by the holders of the Preferred
Stock of their right to vote, as a class, upon any of the matters set forth in
subparagraphs (a) through (d) above shall not limit their general rights to
vote upon such matters, or any of them, together with the holders of the Common
Stock, neither class voting as a class.

        The term "consolidated net earnings of the Corporation", as used herein
and in Paragraph 1 of Division B hereof, means the net income of the Corporation
and its finance and insurance subsidiaries available for dividends for the
period in question, calculated to a date not earlier than the last day of the
fourth calendar month preceding the month in which the contemplated action
requiring the computation of consolidated net earnings is to be authorized, as
shown by a consolidated income statement prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, duly certified or verified by the President or
the Treasurer of the Corporation or by the principal accounting officer of the
Corporation or by a firm of independent certified public accountants (who may be
the regular accountants of the Corporation) approved by the Board of Directors
of the Corporation, and said Board shall be fully ????????? in relying in good
faith thereon: provided, however, that, for the purposes of this Paragraph 5
only, each computation of consolidated net earnings may include, in the
discretion of the Corporation, the ??????? of operations of ????? or insurance
subsidiaries for the period in question applicable to stock of such subsidiaries
about to be acquired and which are to be owned by the Corporation at the time of
the taking, or as a ??????? of the proposed action in connection with which
consolidated not earnings are to be ascertained: and provided, further, that,
for the purposes of this Paragraph 5 only, the Corporation shall be entitled to
(but need not) include in the total gross income and the total operating
expenses of itself or its finance or insurance subsidiaries the results of the
operation of any finance or insurance business previously operated by others,
notwithstanding that such finance or insur-

<PAGE>   26
                                       12

ance business shall have been or is about to be acquired by it or a finance or
insurance subsidiary during or subsequent to the period for which consolidated
net earnings are being computed, if such property is about to be acquired and is
to be owned by the Corporation or a finance or insurance subsidiary at the time
of the taking, or as a result, of the proposed action in connection with which
consolidated net earnings of the Corporation are to be ascertained, but in any
such event the results of such operation for the whole of such period shall be
included as nearly as may be possible in the same manner as if such business had
been operated during such period by the Corporation or such subsidiary.

        The term "net worth of the Corporation", as used herein and in Paragraph
1 of Division B hereof, means the aggregate of the consolidated assets of the
Corporation and its finance and insurance subsidiaries, exclusive of deferred
charges (other than prepaid interest and taxes) and intangibles, including, but
not in limitation, good will, trade marks, trade names, patents and all other
intangibles, of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, less the aggregate of its
and their consolidated liabilities, excluding capital and surplus, all computed
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as of a date not
earlier than the last day of the fourth calendar month preceding the month in
which the contemplated action requiring the computation of the net worth of the
corporation is to be authorized.

        The term "consolidated net current assets of the Corporation", as used
herein and in Paragraph 1 of Division B hereof, means the net current assets of
the Corporation and its finance and insurance subsidiaries as of a date not
earlier than the last day of the fourth calendar month preceding the month in
which the contemplated action requiring the computation of consolidated net
current assets is to be authorized, as determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles by deducting from the value of the cash, notes
and accounts receivable (less reserves), and marketable securities (taken at
cost or market value, whichever is less), all liabilities of the Corporation and
its subsidiaries other than capital and surplus.

        The term "subsidiary or subsidiaries", as used herein and in Paragraph 1
of Division B hereof, means any corporation of which the Corporation owns,
either directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, more than 50% of
the stock having ordinary voting power for the election of directors; the term
"finance subsidiary" shall mean any subsidiary substantially nil of the business
of which shall be the acquisition  and holding of notes, receivables and other
obligations; and the term "insurance subsidiary" shall mean any subsidiary
substantially all of the business of which shall be the insuring or reinsuring
of life insurance risks, accident and health risks, and multiple line risks, and
of acting as agent for the procuring of any such insurance business.
<PAGE>   27
                                       13

                           Division B -- Common Stock

        1. Dividend Rights: After full cumulative dividends for all past
dividend periods and the then current dividend period on the Preferred Stock
shall have been paid or declared and set apart for payment in accordance with
Paragraph 2 of Division A above, and after all funds at the time required to be
paid or set apart to provide for any purchase or sinking fund or funds which may
be prescribed pursuant to subparagraph (g) of Paragraph 1 of Division A above by
resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors with respect to any series
of Preferred Stock have been so paid or set apart, dividends may be paid out of
any funds lawfully available therefor upon the Common Stock and upon any class
of stock ranking as to dividends or assets subordinate to the Preferred Stock
if, when and as declared by the Board of Directors in its discretion, and shares
of any outstanding class of stock of the Corporation ranking as to dividends or
assets subordinate to the Preferred Stock may be purchased, acquired, redeemed
or retired by the Corporation; provided that, so long as any shares of Preferred
Stock are outstanding, no dividends (other than a dividend payable in stock of
any class ranking as to dividends and assets subordinate to the Preferred Stock)
shall be paid on any stock other than the Preferred Stock and no expenditure on
account of the purchase, acquisition, redemption or other retirement (except in
exchange for other shares of stock, by conversion or otherwise, of the
Corporation or from the proceeds of the issue and sale of shares of any class of
stock ranking as to dividends and assets subordinate to the Preferred Stock) of
any outstanding stock of the Corporation, other than the Preferred Stock, shall
be made

        (a) if the aggregate amount of payments for all dividends on and
expenditures for the purchase, acquisition, redemption, or retirement of any
class of stock ranking subordinate to the Preferred Stock as to dividends or
assets (including the payment or expenditure then to be made but excluding
dividends paid in stock ranking subordinate to the Preferred Stock in both the
foregoing respects and after deducting from such expenditures any amounts
received by the Corporation from the issue and sale of any class of stock
ranking subordinate to the Preferred Stock as to dividends and assets) made
subsequent to November 30, 1964, shall exceed the consolidated net earnings of
the Corporation from and after November 30, 1964, after deducting therefrom all
dividends on the Preferred Stock and all dividends on any class of stock having
preference or priority over or ranking on a parity with the Preferred Stock
either as to dividends or assets.
<PAGE>   28
                                       14

        (b) if the payment of such dividend or the making of such expenditures
shall or would thereby decrease the consolidated net current assets of the
Corporation below an amount equal to 150% of the fixed involuntary liquidating
amount of each share of Preferred Stock then outstanding and of each share of
any class of stock having preference or priority or ranking on a parity with
Preferred Stock as to dividends and assets and then outstanding;

        (c) if the payment of such dividend or the making of such expenditures
shall or would thereby decrease the net worth of the Corporation below an amount
equal to 200% of the fixed involuntary liquidating amount of each share of
Preferred Stock then outstanding and of each share of any class of stock having
preference or priority over or ranking on a parity with Preferred Stock as to
dividends and assets and then outstanding; and

        (d) if the payment of such dividend or the making of such expenditures
shall or would decrease the earned surplus of the Corporation, computed in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, to an amount less than
one year's dividend requirements on all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock
and on all shares of each class of stock having preference or priority over or
ranking on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends or assets and then
outstanding. Earned surplus accumulated prior to November 30, 1964, out of which
dividends may not be paid pursuant to subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 1, may
be included in calculating the earned surplus of the Corporation for the
purposes of this subparagraph (d).

        For the purposes of the foregoing proviso, the terms (i) "consolidated
net earnings of the Corporation", (ii) "consolidated net current assets of the
Corporation", (iii) "net worth of the Corporation" and (iv) "subsidiary or
subsidiaries" shall have the same meanings as provided in Paragraph 5 of
Division A.

        2. Distribution of Assets: In the event of any liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of the Corporation, or any reduction of its capital, resulting in
a distribution of its assets to its stockholders, whether voluntary or
involuntary, after there shall have been paid or set apart for the holders of
the Preferred Stock the full preferential amounts to which they are entitled
under the provisions of Paragraph 3 of Division A above, the holders of the
Common Stock shall be entitled to receive as a class, pro rata, the remaining
assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders.
<PAGE>   29
                                       15

        3. Voting Power: Except as provided in Paragraph 5 of Division A above
or as required by the laws of the State of Delaware, the holders of the Common
Stock shall, together with the holders of the Preferred Stock (neither class
voting as a class), possess full voting power for the election of directors and
all other purposes, and the holders of the Common Stock shall, subject to the
provisions of the By-laws of the Corporation and of the laws of the State of
Delaware relating to the fixing of the record date, be entitled to one (1) vote
for each share held by them, respectively, for all purposes.

        FIFTH: The minimum amount of capital with which the Corporation will
commence business is One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).

        SIXTH: The names and places of residence of the incorporators are as
follows:

                    Names                  Residences
                    -----                  ----------
                S. H. Livesay              Wilmington, Delaware
                J. F. Cook                 Wilmington, Delaware
                A. D. Grier                Wilmington, Delaware

        SEVENTH: The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

        EIGHTH: In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by
law, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to make,
alter, amend or repeal the By-laws of the Corporation.

        NINTH: The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or
repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the
manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute and all rights conferred upon
stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

B. Said amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections
228 and 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
<PAGE>   30


                                       16

C.  The capital of the Corporation will not be reduced under or by reason of
said amendment.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said AVCO DELTA CORPORATION has caused its
corporate seal to be affixed and this certificate to be signed by A. E.
Weidman, its Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Philip J. Cullen, its
Secretary, this 14th day of April, 1971.

                                        AVCO DELTA CORPORATION

AVCO DELTA CORPORATION                  By  /s/ A. E. WEIDMAN
      INCORPORATED                         -----------------------------
      JULY 17, 1964                          A. E. Weidman, Chairman
     CORPORATE SEAL                          of the Board of Directors



      Attest:                           By  /s/ PHILIP J. CULLEN
                                          -------------------------------
                                             Philip J. Cullen,
                                             Secretary

<PAGE>   31


                                       17

STATE OF CALIFORNIA    )
                       ) SS.:
COUNTY OF ORANGE       )



        BE IT REMEMBERED, that on this 14th day of April, A.D. 1971, personally
came before me, Earline Loop, a Notary Public, A. E. Weidman, Chairman of the
Board of Directors of Avco Delta Corporation, a corporation of the State of
Delaware, the corporation described in and which executed the foregoing
certificate, known to me personally to be such, and he, the said A. E. Weidman,
as such Chairman, duly executed said certificate before me and acknowledged the
said certificate to be his act and deed and the act and deed of said
corporation; that the signatures of the said Chairman and of the Secretary of
said corporation to the said foregoing certificate are in the handwriting of
the said Chairman and Secretary of said corporation, respectively; that the
seal affixed to said certificate is the common or corporation seal of said
corporation; and that the facts stated therein are true.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the
day and year aforesaid.


                                        /s/ EARLINE M. LOOP
                                      ---------------------------------
                                                 Notary Public

                                      My Commission Expires


                                                [OFFICIAL SEAL 
                                                EARLINE M. LOOP
                                            NOTARY PUBLIC, CALIFORNIA
                                                PRINCIPAL OFFICE IN
                                                LOS ANGELES COUNTY
                                        My Commission Expires July 28, 1974]




<PAGE>   32
                                                                        PAGE 1



                               STATE OF DELAWARE

                        OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

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



        I, MICHAEL RATCHFORD, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO
HEREBY CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF
AGREEMENT OF MERGER (DELAWARE CORPORATIONS) OF "AVCO DELTA FINANCIAL 
CORPORATION" FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE FIFTH DAY OF MAY, A.D. 1971, AT 8:30 
O'CLOCK A.M.


                          *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *






                                        /s/  MICHAEL RATCHFORD
                                        -------------------------------------
                     [LOGO]             Michael Ratchford, Secretary of State

                                        AUTHENTICATION: *3693508

923455205                                         DATE: 12/10/1992
<PAGE>   33
        AGREEMENT AND LIQUIDATION AND MERGER

        AGREEMENT OF LIQUIDATION AND MERGER, dated this 30th day of April,
1971, between AVCO AND DELTA CORPORATION ("Delta"), a Delaware corporation,
AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. ("AFS"), a Delaware corporation, and AVCO
CORPORATION ("Avco"), a Delaware corporation;

                         W I T N E S S E T H   T H A T:

        WHEREAS Avco acquired more than 90% of the outstanding shares of common
and preferred stock of AFS in a taxable transaction which became effective on
January 21, 1969 and has since acquired the remaining outstanding common shares
of AFS;

        WHEREAS Avco wishes to acquire all of the assets of AFS in
accordance with the provisions of Section 334(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1954;

        WHEREAS AFS adopted a plan of liquidation on January 15, 1971 whereby
its assets will be transferred either to Avco or to such of its subsidiaries or
affiliates as Avco may direct, in complete cancellation of all of the
outstanding common stock of AFS;

        WHEREAS Avco has heretofore directed that all assets of AFS to be
received by it pursuant to the foregoing plan of liquidation, in complete
cancellation of all of the outstanding common stock of AFS, be transferred to
Delta, its wholly-owned subsidiary, and Delta has agreed to accept such assets;

        WHEREAS the respective Boards of Directors of Avco, Delta and AFS have
agreed that the method to be used to accomplish the transfer of assets pursuant
to the foregoing plan of liquidation shall be a satisfactory merger of AFS into
Delta pursuant to the terms hereof;


                                       1

<PAGE>   34
        WHEREAS both Delta and AFS have 500,000 shares of common stock which
are issued and outstanding;

        NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

        1.      AFS will be merged into Delta in accordance with the provisions
of Section 251 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, with Delta being the
surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation").

        2.      The Certificate of Incorporation of Delta, as in effect
immediately prior to the merger, shall remain and continue to be the Certificate
of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, except that Article First
thereof shall be amended as of the effective date of the merger (the "Effective
Date") to read as follows:

        "First:  The name of the Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the
        Corporation) is AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC."

        3.      The By-laws of Delta, as in effect immediately prior to the
merger, shall remain and continue to be the By-laws of the Surviving
Corporation, and Delta's present directors and officers shall continue to be
the directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation.

        4.      On the Effective Date,

                (a)  Each outstanding share of common stock of AFS shall be
                cancelled.

                (b)  Each outstanding share of each class and series of
                preferred stock of AFS shall be changed and automatically
                converted into one preferred share of the same class and series
                of the Surviving Corporation, having the identical rights and
                preferences.

                (c)  Each outstanding share of common stock of Delta shall be
                unaffected by the merger and the same shall continue and remain
                outstanding as common shares of the Surviving Corporation.



                                      -2-
<PAGE>   35
        5.      The Effective Date of the merger shall be the date this
Agreement is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
pursuant to Section 103 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

        6.      This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding
between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
respective successors and assigns of such parties.

        7.      This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of
which shall be an original but all of which together shall continue one and the
same instrument.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
signed in their respective corporate names by their respective duly authorized
officers and their respective corporate seals to be affixed hereto, all as of
the date and year first above written.


[SEAL]                             AVCO


Attest:                            By
                                     ------------------------------------
                                                    President

- ------------------------------
          Secretary


                                   AVCO DELTA CORPORATION


Attest:                            By
                                     ------------------------------------
                                                    President

- ------------------------------
      Assistant Secretary


[SEAL]                             AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.


Attest:                            By
                                     ------------------------------------
                                                    President

- ------------------------------
         Secretary

<PAGE>   36
        I, WILLIAM D. GAILLARD, Assistant Secretary of Avco Delta Corporation, a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware,
hereby certify, as such assistant secretary and under the seal of the said
corporation, that the Agreement to which this certificate is attached, after
having been first duly signed on behalf of the said corporation and having been
signed on behalf of Avco Financial Services, Inc., a corporation of the State
of Delaware, was duly adopted pursuant to section 228 of Title 8 of the
Delaware Code of 1953 by the unanimous written consent of the stockholders
holding all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the
corporation having voting power, and said Agreement was thereby adopted as the
act of the stockholders of said Avco Delta Corporation and is the duly adopted
agreement and act of the said corporation.

        WITNESS my hand and the seal of said Avco Delta Corporation on this
30th day of April, 1971.



[Corporate Seal]                        /s/ WILLIAM D. GAILLARD
                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Assistant Secretary
<PAGE>   37
        I, PHILIP J. CULLEN, Secretary of Avco Financial Services, Inc., a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware,
hereby certify, as such secretary and under the seal of the said corporation,
that the Agreement to which this certificate is attached, after having been
first duly signed on behalf of the said corporation and having been signed on
behalf of Avco Delta Corporation, a corporation of the State of Delaware, was
duly adopted pursuant to section 228 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code of 1953 by
the written consent of the stockholders holding in excess of 90% of the issued
and outstanding shares of the capital stock of the corporation having voting
power, and written notice of adoption of the Agreement was given as provided in
section 228 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code of 1953 to every stockholder
entitled to such notice, and said Agreement was thereby adopted as the act of
the stockholders of said Avco Financial Services, Inc. and is the duly adopted
agreement and act of the said corporation.

        WITNESS my hand and the seal of said Avco Financial Services, Inc. on
this 30th day of April, 1971.



[Corporate Seal]                        /s/ PHILIP J. CULLEN
                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Secretary
<PAGE>   38
        THE ABOVE AGREEMENT, having been executed on behalf of each corporate
party thereto, and having been adopted separately by each corporate party to
the merger described therein, in accordance with the provisions of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and that fact having been certified
on said Agreement by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of each corporate
party to the merger, the President or Chairman of the Board of Directors or
each corporate party to the merger does now hereby execute the said Agreement
and the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of each corporate party thereto does
now hereby attest the said Agreement under the corporate seals of their
respective corporations, as the respective act, deed and agreement of each of
said corporations, on this 30th day of April, 1971.


                                        AVCO DELTA CORPORATION

[Corporate Seal]                        

                                        By              [SIG]
                                          ----------------------------------
                                                      President

Attest:

            [SIG]
- --------------------------------
     Assistant Secretary

                                        AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

[Corporate Seal]
                
                                        By              [SIG]
                                          ----------------------------------
                                                      Chairman

Attest:

            [SIG]
- --------------------------------
          Secretary

<PAGE>   39
STATE OF CALIFORNIA     )
                        )    ss:
COUNTY OF ORANGE        )

        BE IT REMEMBERED that on this 30th day of April, 1971, personally came
before me, a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, H. W.
MERRYMAN, President of Avco Delta Corporation, a corporation of the State of
Delaware, and he duly executed said Agreement before me and acknowledged the
said Agreement to be his act and deed and the act and deed of said corporation
and the facts stated therein are true; and that the seal affixed to said
Agreement and attested by the Assistant Secretary of said corporation is the
common or corporate seal of said corporation.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the
day and year aforesaid.



                                              /s/  CARMEN ARREDONDO
(Seal)                                  --------------------------------
                                                  Notary Public

<PAGE>   40
STATE OF CALIFORNIA     )
                        )    ss:
COUNTY OF ORANGE        )

        BE IT REMEMBERED that on this 30th day of April, 1971, personally came
before me, a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, A. A.
WEIDMAN, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Avco Financial Services, Inc., a
corporation of the State of Delaware, and he duly executed said Agreement before
me and acknowledged the said Agreement to be his act and deed and the act and
deed of said corporation and the facts stated therein are true; and that the
seal affixed to said Agreement and attested by the Assistant Secretary of said
corporation is the common or corporate seal of said corporation.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the
day and year aforesaid.



                                              /s/  CARMEN ARREDONDO
(Seal)                                  --------------------------------
                                                  Notary Public
<PAGE>   41

                               BOOK Y113 PAGE 339                         12328

                                                                        PAGE 1


                               STATE OF DELAWARE



                                     [LOGO]


                          OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE

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

        I, MICHAEL HARKINS, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE DO
HEREBY CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF
AMENDMENT OF AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE
THIRTY-FIRST DAY OF MAY, A.D. 1988, AT 9 O'CLOCK A.M.


                          *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *



                              RECEIVED FOR RECORD

                               JUNE 20 A.D. 1988

                                     [NAME]

                                    RECORDER

                         $3.00 STATE DOCUMENT FEE PAID




                                        /s/  MICHAEL HARKINS
                                        -----------------------------------
            [SEAL]                      Michael Harkins, Secretary of State

                                        AUTHENTICATION:  11738371

          881520068                               DATE:  06/04/1988
<PAGE>   42
                                                                  [F I L E D]
                                                                  May 31, 1988
                                                                     [sig]

            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                       of

                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.



        It is hereby certified that:

        1.  The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the "corporation")
is Avco Financial Services, Inc.

        2.  The certificate of incorporation of the corporation is hereby
amended by adding Articles TENTH and ELEVENTH, as follows:

"TENTH: No director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the
Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director provided, however, that this Article Tenth shall not
eliminate or limit the liability of a director to the extent provided by
applicable law (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the
Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or
which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under
Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware (as in effect and as
hereafter amended), or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived
an improper personal benefit. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended
after approval by the stockholders of this Article Tenth to authorize corporate
action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then
the liability of each director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited
to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so
amended. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article Tenth nor the adoption
of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this
Article Tenth shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article Tenth in
respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but
for this Article Tenth, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal
or adoption of an inconsistent provision."

"ELEVENTH: This Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted  by Section
145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same may be
amended and supplemented, indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have
power to indemnify under said section from and against any and all of the
expenses, liabilities, or other matters referred to in or covered by said
section, and the indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under
any Bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or
<PAGE>   43


otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, or agent and shall inure to
the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such a person.

        Signed and attested to on May 18, 1988.


                                        /s/ Herbert F. Smith
                                        -----------------------------
                                        Herbert F. Smith, Senior Vice
                                        President


Attest:


/s/ Laila B. Soares
- --------------------------
Laila B. Soares, Assistant
Secretary




STATE OF        )
                )  SS:
COUNTY OF       )

        BE IT REMEMBERED that, on May 18, 1988, before me, a Notary Public duly
authorized by law to take acknowledgment of deeds, personally came Herbert F.
Smith, Senior Vice President of Avco Financial Services, Inc. who duly signed
the foregoing instrument before me and acknowledged that such signing is his
act and deed, that such instrument as executed is the act and deed of said
corporation, and that the facts stated therein are true.

        GIVEN under my hand on May 18, 1988.


[SEAL]                                     /s/  Marilyn L. Havens
                                        ------------------------------  
                                                 Notary Public     
<PAGE>   44
                                   COMPOSITE

                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                       of

                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.


        AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., a corporation organized and existing
under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,
does hereby certify as follows:

        FIRST:  The name of the corporation (hereinafter referred to as the
Corporation) is

                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

        SECOND:  The Corporation's registered office in the State of Delaware
is located at 100 West Tenth Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New
Castle. The name and address of its registered agent at such address is The
Corporation Trust Company, 100 West Tenth Street, Wilmington, Delaware.

        THIRD:  The nature of the business, or objects or purposes to be
transacted, promoted or carried on by the Corporation are:

        (a)     To engage in the business of loaning money with or without
security and in any amount deemed advisable, for the purpose of earning
interest on said loans, or otherwise, and to engage in the business of
negotiating, guaranteeing, or endorsing loans in any amount with or without
security for the purpose of charging fees therefore, or otherwise.

        (b)     To engage in any other lawful act or activity for which
corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State 
of Delaware.
<PAGE>   45
                                       2


        FOURTH:  The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation
shall have authority to issue is One million five hundred thousand
(1,500,000).  Of said shares, Five hundred thousand (500,000) shall be of a
class designated as Preferred Stock without par value and One million
(1,000,000) shares shall be of a class designated as Common Stock with a par
value of One Dollar ($1) each.

        The description of the Preferred Stock and Common Stock, and the voting
powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional and
other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions
thereof are as hereinafter in this Article FOURTH set forth:

                       DIVISION A -- THE PREFERRED STOCK

        1.  Series and Variations Between Series:  The Preferred Stock may be
issued from time to time in series as may from time to time be determined by
resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors of this Corporation, and the
Board of Directors is hereby expressly vested with authority to provide by
resolution or resolutions for the issue of the Preferred Stock in series with
variations between series and with such designations, preferences and relative,
participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations
or restrictions thereof as shall be stated and expressed in such resolution or
resolutions, including (but without limitation) one or more of the following
particulars:

        (a)  The designation of such series, which may be by distinguishing
number, letter or title;

        (b)  The rate (to be expressed in terms of dollars) at which dividends
are to be payable and to accrue in respect of the shares of such series,
hereinafter referred to as the "fixed dividend rate";

        (c)  The amount (to be expressed in terms of dollars) payable in
respect of the shares of such series, in addition to dividends accrued or in
arrears, upon a voluntary liquidation, dissolution, winding up or reduction of
capital of this Corporation, which amount in respect of any series may, but
need not, vary according to the time or circumstances of such action, the
amount or amounts so fixed as of any given time or for any given period being
hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "fixed voluntary liquidation amount";

        (d)  The amount (to be expressed in terms of dollars) payable in
respect of the shares of such series, in addition to dividends accrued

<PAGE>   46
                                       3



or in arrears, upon an involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding up or
reduction of capital of this Corporation, the amount so fixed being hereinafter
sometimes referred to as the "fixed involuntary liquidation amount";

        (e)  The amount, if any (to be expressed in terms of dollars), payable
in respect of the shares of such series, in addition to dividends accrued or in
arrears, in case of the redemption thereof, which amount in respect of any
series may, but need not, vary according to the time or circumstances of such
action, the amount or amounts so fixed as of any given time or for any given
period being hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "fixed voluntary
redemption price";

        (f)  The right, if any, of the holders of shares of such series to
convert the same into or exchange the same for shares of Common Stock of the
Corporation, and the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange;

        (g)  The provisions, if any, for a sinking or purchase fund (including
any fund or requirement for the periodic retirement of shares) with respect to
the shares of such series;

Provided, however, that such variations shall not be inconsistent with the
provisions of this Article Fourth applicable to all series of the Preferred
Stock or with the laws of Delaware.

        If and whenever from time to time the Board of Directors shall
determine to issue Preferred Stock of any series, it shall, prior to the
issuance of any shares of each such series, by resolution or resolutions fix
the terms of such series and shall cause the same to be set forth or summarized
in the certificates therefor and to be set forth in such additional certificate
or certificates, if any, as shall at the time be required by law.

        2.  Dividends:  The holders of the Preferred Stock of each series shall
be entitled to receive, out of any funds of the Corporation lawfully available
for dividends under the laws of the State of Delaware, if, when, and as
declared by the Board of Directors in its discretion, preferential cumulative
dividends in cash at the fixed dividend rate for such series and no more,
payable quarterly as hereinafter provided, before any dividends shall be
declared or paid upon, or set apart for, or other distribution shall be ordered
or made in respect of the Common Stock.  Such dividends on the Preferred Stock
shall be payable on the tenth day of January, April, July and October in each
year (the periods between

<PAGE>   47
                                       4





such dates, commencing on such dates, being hereby designated as "dividend
periods").  Dividends on all shares of each series shall be cumulative from the
first day of the dividend period in which the first shares of such series shall
have been originally issued, so that, if full cumulative dividends on all the
outstanding Preferred Stock at the rate or rates aforesaid for all past
dividend periods and also full cumulative dividends on such stock for the then
current dividend period shall not have been paid thereon, or declared and a sum
sufficient for the payment thereof set apart, the amount of the deficiency (but
without interest thereon) shall be fully paid or dividends upon the Preferred
Stock in such amount shall be declared and a sum sufficient for the payment
thereof set apart before any dividends shall be declared or paid upon, or set
apart for, or any other distribution shall be ordered or made in respect of the
Common Stock and before any sums shall be paid or set apart for the redemption
of less than all of the Preferred Stock then outstanding or for the purchase or
retirement of any of the Preferred Stock or the Common Stock.  In the event of
the issue of additional shares of the Preferred Stock of any series subsequent
to the date of the issue of the first shares of such series, all dividends paid
on the Preferred Stock of such series prior to the issue of such additional
shares and all dividends payable to the holders of record of Preferred Stock of
such series of a date prior to such issue shall be deemed to have been paid in
respect of the additional shares so issued.  Any dividends paid upon the
Preferred Stock in an amount less than full cumulative dividends accrued or in
arrears upon all Preferred Stock outstanding shall, if more than one series be
outstanding, be divided between the different series in proportion to the
aggregate amounts which would be distributable to the Preferred Stock of each
series if full cumulative dividends were declared and paid thereon.

        3.  Liquidation Rights and Preferences:  In the event of any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, or any reduction of
its capital, resulting in any distribution of its assets to its stockholders,
the holders of each series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, for
each share thereof, out of the assets of the Corporation, whether from capital,
surplus or earnings, available for distribution to its stockholders, an amount
equal to the fixed involuntary liquidation amount applicable to each share of
such series if such liquidation, dissolution, winding up or reduction of capital
shall have been involuntary, and equal to the then current fixed voluntary
liquidation amount applicable to each share of such series if such liquida-

<PAGE>   48
                                       5


tion, dissolution, winding up or reduction of capital shall have been
voluntary, together in each case with an amount equal to all dividends accrued
or in arrears thereon, whether or not earned, before any distribution of assets
of the Corporation shall be made to the holders of the Common Stock; but the
holders of the Preferred Stock shall be entitled to no further participation in
such distribution. If, upon any such liquidation, dissolution, winding up or
reduction of capital, the assets of the Corporation, distributable as aforesaid
among the holders of the Preferred Stock, shall be insufficient to permit of
the payment to them of the full preferential amounts aforesaid, then the entire
assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders shall be
distributed ratably among the holders of the Preferred Stock in proportion to
the full preferential amounts to which they are respectively entitled. As used
herein, the expression "dividends accrued or in arrears" means, in respect of
each share of the Preferred Stock, an amount equal to the fixed dividend rate
per annum for such share (without interest thereon), from the date from which
cumulative dividends commenced to accrue in respect to such share to the date
as of which the computation is to be made, less the aggregate amount (without
interest) of all dividends theretofore paid (or deemed to have been paid)
thereon, or declared and set aside for payment in respect thereof. A
consolidation or merger of the Corporation with any other corporation or
corporations shall not be regarded as a liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the Corporation within the meaning of this Paragraph 3, unless such
consolidation or merger shall substantially impair the rights and preferences
of the Preferred Stock, in which event it shall be considered as a voluntary
liquidation; nor shall any purchase or redemption of Preferred Stock or the
purchase of Common Stock in any manner herein authorized or permitted be
considered as a reduction of capital within the meaning of this Paragraph 3.

        4.  Redemption and Purchase of Preferred Stock:  The Corporation may,
at its option, expressed by resolution of its Board of Directors, or for the
purposes of the sinking or purchase fund for any series, at any time or from
time to time redeem the whole or any part of the Preferred Stock, or the whole
or any part of any series thereof, at a price for each share so to be redeemed
equal to the sum of the then current fixed voluntary redemption price
applicable to such share if such redemption be voluntary at the option of the
Corporation, or, in the case of any redemption for the purposes of any sinking
or purchase fund, at the then applicable sinking or purchase fund redemp-



<PAGE>   49
tion price as provided in the resolution or resolutions of the Board of
Directors providing for a sinking or purchase fund for such series of the
Preferred Stock, plus, in any case, all dividends accrued or in arrears thereon,
whether or not earned. Notice of the intention of the Corporation to redeem
shares of the Preferred Stock and of the date and place of redemption shall be
given by the Corporation by mailing a copy of such notice at least
forty-five (45) days prior to the date fixed for such redemption to the holders
of record of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses
appearing on the books of the Corporation. If less than all shares of any series
of the Preferred Stock is to be redeemed as herein provided, the redemption
shall be made in such amount, at such place, by such method, either by lot or
pro rata, and subject to such provisions of convenience as shall, from time to
time, be provided by the By-laws of the Corporation or be determined by
resolution of the Board of Directors. From and after the date fixed in any such
notice as the date of redemption, unless default shall be made by the
Corporation in providing moneys at the time and place specified for the payment
of the redemption price pursuant to said notice, all dividends of the shares of
Preferred Stock thereby called for redemption shall cease to accrue; and, from
and after the date so fixed (unless default be made as aforesaid) or from and
after the date of the earlier deposit by the Corporation in a special account
with a solvent bank or trust company of funds sufficient for such redemption (a
statement of the intention so to deposit having been included in said notice),
all rights of the holders of said shares of Preferred Stock so called for
redemption as stockholders of the Corporation, except only (a) the right to
receive the redemption price, or (b) if such shares shall be convertible into
Common Stock, the right to convert such shares into shares of Common Stock prior
to the close of business on the date fixed for such redemption, shall cease and
determine, and such shares shall be deemed no longer to be outstanding. Any
moneys so deposited for the purpose of said redemption and not required therefor
because of the conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock for the redemption of
which said moneys were deposited, shall forthwith, upon demand by the
Corporation after the redemption date, be paid by the depositary to the
Corporation, and any other moneys deposited for such redemption which shall
remain unclaimed by the holders of such Preferred Stock at the end of six (6)
years after the redemption date, shall, at the conclusion of such six-year
period, be paid by the depositary to the
<PAGE>   50
                                       7



Corporation, in either case together with any interest thereon that shall have
been allowed by the bank or trust company with which the deposit shall have
been made.  No redemption of Preferred Stock, as herein provided, shall be made
or ordered unless full cumulative dividends at the applicable fixed dividend
rate or rates hereinabove specified, upon all Preferred Stock then outstanding
which is not to be redeemed from the date upon which dividends thereon became
cumulative to the end of the then current dividend period shall have been paid
(or deemed to have been paid) or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment
thereof set apart.

        So long as (a) all cumulative dividends on the Preferred Stock are paid
or declared and set apart for payment for all past dividend periods, and the
dividend is either paid or declared and set apart for payment for the current
dividend period, (b) all funds at the time required to be paid or set apart for
the sinking or purchase funds, if any, provided by resolution or resolutions of
the Board of Directors for any series of Preferred Stock have been paid or set
apart, and (c) the Corporation shall not be otherwise in default as provided
in this Article Fourth, then, and in such events, the Corporation shall have
the right at any time, or from time to time, to purchase out of funds legally
available for such purpose, Preferred Stock, either at public or private sale,
at not exceeding the then current fixed voluntary redemption price applicable
to such shares, plus accrued dividends and plus an amount equal to the usual
and customary brokerage commissions payable in connection with the purchase
thereof; provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not be
applicable to prevent the Corporation from utilizing any funds then set apart
for any sinking or purchase fund for the purchase of Preferred Stock; and
provided, further, that, so long as any shares of Preferred Stock remain
outstanding, the Corporation shall not purchase or retire any shares of Common
Stock or any shares of any class of stock, whether now or hereafter authorized,
ranking in payment of dividends or distribution of assets subordinate to the
Preferred Stock unless required by law in connection with corporate action,
except as authorized or permitted by the provisions of Paragraph 1 of Division
B hereof.

        Shares of Preferred Stock redeemed or purchased, or otherwise acquired
by the Corporation, may be cancelled and retired or shall retain the status of
authorized shares.

        5.  Voting Rights and Restrictions on Certain Corporate Action:  Except
as hereinafter in this Paragraph 5 expressly provided, the 

<PAGE>   51
                                       8



holders of the Preferred Stock shall, together with the holders of the Common
Stock (neither class voting as a class), possess full voting rights for the
election of directors and for all other purposes, and for such purposes the
holders of the Preferred Stock shall, subject to the provisions of the By-laws
of the Corporation and of the statutes of the State of Delaware relating to the
fixing of the record date, be entitled to one vote for each share held by them
respectively. 

        Anything hereinbefore to the contrary notwithstanding, in case at any
time the Corporation shall fail to declare and pay or declare and set apart for
payment in full any quarter yearly dividend on any shares of Preferred Stock and
shall not, on or before the fourth succeeding quarter yearly dividend payment
date, have paid or declared and set apart for payment in full such dividend,
and also all subsequently accruing dividends on all the outstanding Preferred
Stock, then the holder of the Preferred Stock shall, thereupon, have the right,
voting as one class to the exclusion of the holders of the Common Stock, by
plurality vote, to elect such number of directors of the Corporation as shall
constitute one-third of the entire number of directors the Corporation is then
authorized to have (any fraction less than one-half to be disregarded and any
fraction of one-half or more to be considered as one), and such right shall
continue (and may be exercised at any annual or other meeting of stockholders
for the election of Directors) until all accrued dividends on the Preferred
Stock shall have been paid or declared and set apart for payment; and, during
the continuance of such right of the Preferred stockholders, the holders of the
Common Stock, voting as another class to the exclusion of the Preferred
stockholders, shall have the right, by plurality vote, to elect the remaining
members of the Board of Directors.  The term of office of all persons who may
be Directors of the Corporation at any time when such rights shall accrue to
the holders of the Preferred Stock shall terminate upon the election (followed
by qualification) of their successors at a special meeting of the stockholders
of the Corporation, which shall be held, at any time after the accrual of such
right, upon the notice provided in the By-laws of the Corporation for the
annual meeting of the stockholders, at the request in writing of the holders of
record of at least five per cent (5%) of the number of shares of Preferred
Stock then outstanding.  In default of the calling of said meeting by a proper
officer of the Corporation, within thirty (30) days after the making of such
request, such meeting may be called on like notice by the holders of record of
at least five per cent. (5%) of the Preferred Stock, for which pur-
<PAGE>   52
                                       9



pose such Preferred stockholders shall have the right to have access to the
stock books of the Corporation.  If such special meeting be not called prior to
the next annual meeting, the Preferred stockholders, voting as one class to the
exclusion of the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to elect at such
annual meeting a number of the Directors of the Corporation as above provided,
and the Common stockholders, as a second class, shall be entitled to elect the
remaining Directors as such annual meeting unless previous thereto all such
dividend defaults shall have been cured.  Upon the termination at any time of
such right of the Preferred stockholders to elect Directors, the term of office
of all Directors then in office shall end upon the election (followed by
qualification) of their successors by the Preferred stockholders and the Common
stockholders, voting together but not by classes, which election may be held on
like notice at a special meeting of the stockholders called at the request in
writing of the holders of record of a least fie per cent. (5%) of the number of
shares of the Corporation then outstanding or, if such special meeting is not
called prior to the next annual meeting, at such next annual meeting; and such
special meeting may be called by the holders of record of at least five per
cent. (5%) of the outstanding shares, if not called promptly by a proper
officer of the Corporation upon such request, for which purpose such holders
shall have access to the stock books of the Corporation.

        In addition to any other approvals or consents herein required, or
required by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Corporation shall not,
without the consent of the holders of record of at least two-thirds of the
shares of Preferred Stock of the Corporation at the time outstanding, given
either by their affirmative vote as a separate class at a meeting called for
that purpose or in writing without a meeting,

                (a)  authorize any stock or class of stock or obligation or
      security convertible into stock having priority or preference over, or
      ranking on a parity with, the Preferred Stock as to dividends or assets,
      or authorize any additional Preferred Stock; or

                (b)  amend the provisions hereof or of any resolution or
      resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to the provisions
      of Paragraph 1 of this Division A so as to affect adversely any of the
      preferences or other rights given to the Preferred Stock; provided,
      however, that if any such amendment would affect adversely one or more,
      but not all, series of Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the
      consent of the holders of record of at



<PAGE>   53
                                       10



least two-thirds of the shares of each such series so affected, similarly given,
each voting as a separate series, shall be required in lieu of the consent of
the holders of record of two-thirds of the shares of Preferred Stock voting as
a class; or

        (c)  issue any shares of Preferred Stock, provided that no such consent
for issue of shares of the Preferred Stock either of any outstanding series or
of any new series shall be required if, (i) prior to the issue thereof and
prior to the adoption of the resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing
each such additional issue of Preferred Stock, the President or Treasurer of
the Corporation shall have certified to said Board, and each such resolution
shall declare it to be the opinion of the Board of Directors, that the
consolidated net earnings of the Corporation (as hereinafter defined) for a
period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months out of the fifteen (15)
consecutive calendar months immediately preceding the month in which the
issuance of additional shares of Preferred Stock is authorized, shall have been
equal to at least three (3) times the annual dividend requirements on all
shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding, and on any shares of any class of
stock having preference or priority over or ranking on a party with the
Preferred Stock as to dividends and/or assets, and on the shares of Preferred
Stock proposed to be issued; (ii) immediately after the issue thereof the net
worth of the Corporation (as hereinafter defined) shall be in excess of 200% of
the fixed involuntary liquidating amount of each share of Preferred Stock then
outstanding and of each share of any class of stock having preference or
priority over or ranking on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends
or assets and of each share of Preferred Stock proposed to be issued; (iii)
immediately after the issue thereof the consolidated net current assets of the
Corporation (as hereinafter defined) shall be in excess of 150% of the fixed
involuntary liquidating amount of each share of Preferred Stock then
outstanding and of each share of any class of stock having preference or
priority over or ranking on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends
or assets and of each share of Preferred Stock proposed to be issued; and (iv)
full cumulative dividends for all past dividend periods and the then current
dividend period on the Preferred Stock shall have been paid or declared and set
apart for payment; or

        (d)  merge or consolidate with any other corporation or sell, lease or
transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets if such
transaction would affect adversely any of the


<PAGE>   54
                                       11

        preferences or other rights of the Preferred Stock or the holders
        thereof, except that the corporation may merge or consolidate, or sell
        or dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, provided that (i)
        the Corporation shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, or the
        successor or acquiring corporation shall be organized under the laws of
        any state of the United States of America, and (ii) the Corporation as
        the continuing or surviving corporation or the successor or acquiring
        corporation, as the case may be, shall not, immediately after such
        merger or consolidation, or such sale or other disposition, be in
        default under any of the provisions of this Paragraph 5; and (iii) the
        surviving corporation, in the event of a consolidation or merger, will
        be a corporation primarily engaged in the finance business.

        Provided, however, that the exercise by the holders of the Preferred
Stock of their right to vote, as a class, upon any of the matters set forth in
subparagraphs (a) through (d) above shall not limit their general rights to vote
upon such matters, or any of them, together with the holders of the Common
Stock, neither class voting as a class.

        The term "consolidated net earnings of the Corporation", as used herein
and in Paragraph 1 of Division B hereof, means the net income of the Corporation
and its finance and insurance subsidiaries available for dividends for the
period in question, calculated to a date not earlier than the last day of the
fourth calendar month preceding the month in which the contemplated action
requiring the computation of consolidated net earnings is to be authorized, as
shown by a consolidated income statement prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, duly certified or verified by the President or
the Treasurer of the Corporation or by the principal accounting officer of the
Corporation or by a firm of independent certified public accountants (who may be
the regular accountants of the Corporation) approved by the Board of Directors
of the Corporation, and said Board shall be fully protected in relying in good
faith thereon; provided, however, that, for the purposes of this Paragraph 5
only, each computation of consolidated net earnings may include, in the
discretion of the Corporation, the results of operations of finance or insurance
subsidiaries for the period in question applicable to stock of such subsidiaries
about to be acquired and which are to be owned by the Corporation at the time of
the taking, or as a result, of the proposed action in connection with which
consolidated net earnings are to be ascertained; and provided, further, that,
for the purposes of this Paragraph 5 only, the Corporation shall be entitled to
(but need not) include in the total gross income and the total operating
expenses of itself or its finance or insurance subsidiaries the results of the
operation of any finance or insurance business previously operated by others,
notwithstanding that such finance or insur-
<PAGE>   55
                                       12

ance business shall have been or is about to be acquired by it or a finance or
insurance subsidiary during or subsequent to the period for which consolidated
net earnings are being computed, if such property is about to be acquired and is
to be owned by the Corporation or a finance or insurance subsidiary at the time
of the taking, or as a result, of the proposed action in connection with which
consolidated net earnings of the Corporation are to be ascertained, but in any
such event the results of such operation for the whole of such period shall be
included as nearly as may be possible in the same manner as if such business had
been operated during such period by the Corporation or such subsidiary.

        The term "net worth of the Corporation", as used herein and in Paragraph
1 of Division B hereof, means the aggregate of the consolidated assets of the
Corporation and its finance and insurance subsidiaries, exclusive of deferred
charges (other than prepaid interest and taxes) and intangibles, including, but
not in limitation, good will, trade marks, trade names, patents and all other
intangibles, of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, less the aggregate of its
and their consolidated liabilities, excluding capital and surplus, all computed
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as of a date not
earlier than the last day of the fourth calendar month preceding the month in
which the contemplated action requiring the computation of the net worth of the
corporation is to be authorized.

        The term "consolidated net current assets of the Corporation", as used
herein and in Paragraph 1 of Division B hereof, means the net current assets of
the Corporation and its finance and insurance subsidiaries as of a date not
earlier than the last day of the fourth calendar month preceding the month in
which the contemplated action requiring the computation of consolidated net
current assets is to be authorized, as determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles by deducting from the value of the cash, notes
and accounts receivable (less reserves), and marketable securities (taken at
cost or market value, whichever is less), all liabilities of the Corporation and
its subsidiaries other than capital and surplus.

        The term "subsidiary or subsidiaries", as used herein and in Paragraph 1
of Division B hereof, means any corporation of which the Corporation owns,
either directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, more than 50% of
the stock having ordinary voting power for the election of directors; the term
"finance subsidiary" shall mean any subsidiary substantially all of the business
of which shall be the acquisition  and holding of notes, receivables and other
obligations; and the term "insurance subsidiary" shall mean any subsidiary
substantially all of the business of which shall be the insuring or reinsuring
of life insurance risks, accident and health risks, and multiple line risks, and
of acting as agent for the procuring of any such insurance business.
<PAGE>   56
                                       13

                           Division B -- Common Stock

        1. Dividend Rights: After full cumulative dividends for all past
dividend periods and the then current dividend period on the Preferred Stock
shall have been paid or declared and set apart for payment in accordance with
Paragraph 2 of Division A above, and after all funds at the time required to be
paid or set apart to provide for any purchase or sinking fund or funds which may
be prescribed pursuant to subparagraph (g) of Paragraph 1 of Division A above by
resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors with respect to any series
of Preferred Stock have been so paid or set apart, dividends may be paid out of
any funds lawfully available therefor upon the Common Stock and upon any class
of stock ranking as to dividends or assets subordinate to the Preferred Stock
if, when and as declared by the Board of Directors in its discretion, and shares
of any outstanding class of stock of the Corporation ranking as to dividends or
assets subordinate to the Preferred Stock may be purchased, acquired, redeemed
or retired by the Corporation; provided that, so long as any shares of Preferred
Stock are outstanding, no dividends (other than a dividend payable in stock of
any class ranking as to dividends and assets subordinate to the Preferred Stock)
shall be paid on any stock other than the Preferred Stock and no expenditure on
account of the purchase, acquisition, redemption or other retirement (except in
exchange for other shares of stock, by conversion or otherwise, of the
Corporation or from the proceeds of the issue and sale of shares of any class of
stock ranking as to dividends and assets subordinate to the Preferred Stock) of
any outstanding stock of the Corporation, other than the Preferred Stock, shall
be made

        (a) if the aggregate amount of payments for all dividends on and
expenditures for the purchase, acquisition, redemption, or retirement of any
class of stock ranking subordinate to the Preferred Stock as to dividends or
assets (including the payment or expenditure then to be made but excluding
dividends paid in stock ranking subordinate to the Preferred Stock in both the
foregoing respects and after deducting from such expenditures any amounts
received by the corporation from the issue and sale of any class of stock
ranking subordinate to the Preferred Stock as to dividends and assets) made
subsequent to November 30, 1964, shall exceed the consolidated net earnings of
the Corporation from and after November 30, 1964, after deducting therefrom all
dividends on the Preferred Stock and all dividends on any class of stock having
preference or priority over or ranking on a parity with the Preferred Stock
either as to dividends or assets.
<PAGE>   57
                                       14

        (b) if the payment of such dividend or the making of such expenditures
shall or would thereby decrease the consolidated net current assets of the
Corporation below an amount equal to 150% of the fixed involuntary liquidating
amount of each share of Preferred Stock then outstanding and of each share of
any class of stock having preference or priority or ranking on a parity with
Preferred Stock as to dividends and assets and then outstanding;

        (c) if the payment of such dividend or the making of such expenditures
shall or would thereby decrease the net worth of the Corporation below an
amount equal to 200% of the fixed involuntary liquidating amount of each share
of Preferred Stock then outstanding and of each share of any class of stock
having preference or priority over or ranking on a parity with the Preferred
Stock as to dividends and assets and then outstanding; and

        (d) if the payment of such dividend or the making of such expenditures
shall or would decrease the earned surplus of the Corporation, computed in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, to an amount less
than one year's dividend requirements on all outstanding shares of Preferred
Stock and on all shares of each class of stock having preference or priority
over or ranking on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends or assets
and then outstanding. Earned surplus accumulated prior to November 30, 1964,
out of which dividends may not be paid pursuant to subparagraph (a) of this
Paragraph 1, may be included in calculating the earned surplus of the
Corporation for the purposes of this subparagraph (d).

        For the purposes of the foregoing proviso, the terms (i) "consolidated
net earnings of the Corporation", (ii) "consolidated net current assets of the
Corporation", (iii) "net worth of the Corporation" and (iv) "subsidiary or
subsidiaries" shall have the same meanings as provided in Paragraph 5 of
Division A.

        2.  Distribution of Assets: In the event of any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, or any reduction of its capital,
resulting in a distribution of its assets to its stockholders, whether
voluntary or involuntary, after there shall have been paid or set apart for the
holders of the Preferred Stock the full preferential amounts to which they are
entitled under the provisions of Paragraph 3 of Division A above, the holders
of the Common Stock shall be entitled to receive as a class, pro rata, the
remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its 
stockholders.

<PAGE>   58
                                       15

        3.      Voting Power:  Except as provided in Paragraph 5 of Division A
above or as required by the laws of the State of Delaware, the holders of the
Common Stock shall, together with the holders of the Preferred Stock (neither
class voting as a class), possess full voting power for the election of
directors and all other purposes, and the holders of the Common Stock shall,
subject to the provisions of the By-laws of the Corporation and of the laws of
the State of Delaware relating to the fixing of the record date, be entitled to
one (1) vote for each share held by them, respectively, for all purposes.

        FIFTH:  The minimum amount of capital with which the Corporation will
commence business is One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).

        SIXTH:  The names and places of residence of the incorporators are as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        <S>                             <C>
        S. H. Livesay                   Wilmington, Delaware
        J. F. Cook                      Wilmington, Delaware
        A. D. Grier                     Wilmington, Delaware
</TABLE>

        SEVENTH:  The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

        EIGHT:  In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by
law, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to make,
alter, amend or repeal the By-laws of the Corporation.

        NINTH:  The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or
repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the
manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute and all rights conferred upon
stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.



<PAGE>   59

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we, the undersigned, being all of the incorporators
hereinabove named, have hereunto set our hands and seals this 17th day of July,
A. D. 1964.


                                            S. H. Livesay               (L.S.)
                                        --------------------------------------

                                            J. F. Cook                  (L.S.)
                                        --------------------------------------

                                            A. D. Grier                 (L.S.)
                                        --------------------------------------




                                       16
<PAGE>   60

STATE OF DELAWARE       )
                        )    SS.
COUNTY OF NEW CASTLE    )


        BE IT REMEMBERED that on this 17th day of July, A. D. 1964, personally
came before me, a Notary Public in and for the State of Delaware, S. H.
Livesay, J. F. Cook, and A. D. Grier, all of the parties to the foregoing
certificate of incorporation, known to me personally to be such, and they did
severally acknowledge the said certificate to be the act and deed of the
signers, respectively, and that the facts therein stated are truly set forth.

        GIVEN under my hand and seal of office the day and year aforesaid.



                                                 Howard K. Webb
                                        ---------------------------------
                                                 Notary Public

             HOWARD K WEBB
             NOTARY PUBLIC
        APPOINTED JUNE 27, 1964
           STATE OF DELAWARE
             TERM 2 YEARS




                                       17


<PAGE>   1
 
                                   EXHIBIT 12
 
                         AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
 
                  STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF NUMBER OF TIMES
                              FIXED CHARGES EARNED
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             Year ended December 31,
                                              -----------------------------------------------------
                                                1996       1995       1994       1993       1992
                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                             (Thousands of dollars)
<S>                                           <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Income
  Income before income taxes and cumulative
     effect of changes in accounting
     principles.............................   $298,559   $287,459   $259,110   $225,784   $203,913
                                               --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
  Fixed charges to be added back to
     income --
     Interest and debt expense..............    426,260    455,379    334,084    324,211    370,884
     Rentals (one-third of all rent and
       related costs charged to income).....     15,015     14,905     13,942     14,378     15,460
                                               --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
          Total fixed charges...............    441,275    470,284    348,026    338,589    386,344
                                               --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
Income before income taxes, cumulative
  effect of changes in accounting principles
  and fixed charges.........................   $739,834   $757,743   $607,136   $564,373   $590,257
                                               ========   ========   ========   ========   ========
Ratio
  Number of times fixed charges covered by
     income before income taxes, cumulative
     effect of changes in accounting
     principles, and fixed charges..........     1.7        1.6        1.7        1.7        1.5
                                                 ===        ===        ===        ===        ===
</TABLE>
 
                                       S-3

<PAGE>   1
 
                                   EXHIBIT 23
 
                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements
(Form S-3 No. 33-55953) of Avco Financial Services, Inc. and in the related
Prospectuses of our report dated January 23, 1997, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements and schedules of Avco Financial Services, Inc.
included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1996.
 
                                          ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Orange County, California
March 27, 1997
 
                                       S-4

<PAGE>   1
                                  EXHIBIT 24

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY
                              -----------------

        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each of the undersigned, an officer
or director, or both, of AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., a Delaware corporation,
does hereby constitute and appoint HERBERT F. SMITH or LAILA B. SOARES with
full power of substitution to said attorney, as the true and lawful attorney
and agent of the undersigned, to do any and all acts and things and to execute
any and all instruments which said attorney and agent deems advisable, of AVCO
FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. to comply with the Securities Act of 1934, as amended,
and any requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect
thereto in connection with the filing under the Securities Act of 1934 of an
Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 on Form 10-K for the 1996 year of AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., as well
as any and all amendments to said Report, including specifically, but without
limitation of the authority hereby granted, the power and authority to sign his
or her name as an officer or director, or both, of AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES,
INC., as indicated opposite his or her signature below, to said Report, and any
such amendments, and each of the undersigned does fully ratify and confirm all
that said attorney, or any of them, or the substitute of any of them, shall do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has subscribed these
presents this 19th day of February, 1997.
              


      /s/ L. B. CAMPBELL                    Director
- ---------------------------------           
          L. B. Campbell

      /s/ J. F. HARDYMON                    Director
- ---------------------------------
          J. F. Hardymon

    /s/ S. A. GILIOTTI                      Director
- ---------------------------------              
        S. A. Giliotti   

     /s/ W. W. JUCHATZ                      Director
- ---------------------------------       
         W. W. JUCHATZ

       /s/ S. L. KEY                        Director
- ---------------------------------          
           S. L. Key 

       /s/ R. A. WATSON                     Director
- ---------------------------------
           R. A. Watson

                                     S-5



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM AFS'
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                          15,562
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                7,253,738
<ALLOWANCES>                                   218,416
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                          80,646
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               8,195,059
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                      3,636,354
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                           500
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,152,186
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 8,195,059
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,760,070
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  274,865
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               556,976
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               203,410
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             426,260
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                298,559
<INCOME-TAX>                                   111,552
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            187,007
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   187,007
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
        

</TABLE>


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