LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORP
S-3, 1996-09-16
FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE
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<PAGE>

      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1996

                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-
________________________________________________________________________________
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
 
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
 
                         LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORPORATION
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                 <C>
                             NEW YORK                                                          13-2615557
                 (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                                            (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
                  INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                                          IDENTIFICATION NO.)
</TABLE>
 
                             315 PARK AVENUE SOUTH
                           NEW YORK, N.Y. 10010-3607
                                 (212) 460-1900
         (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
            AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 
                               JOSEPH A. ORLANDO
                   VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                         LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORPORATION
                             315 PARK AVENUE SOUTH
                           NEW YORK, N.Y. 10010-3607
                                 (212) 460-1900
           (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
                   INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
                            ------------------------
 
                                   COPIES TO:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                 <C>
                     STEPHEN E. JACOBS, ESQ.                                           GERALD S. TANENBAUM, ESQ.
                    WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP                                          CAHILL GORDON & REINDEL
                         767 FIFTH AVENUE                                                    80 PINE STREET
                     NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10153                                           NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10005
                          (212) 310-8000                                                     (212) 701-3000
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
                            ------------------------
 
     If  the only  securities being  registered on  this Form  are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the  following
box. [ ]
 
     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a  delayed or continuous basis pursuant to  Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [ ]
 
     If this Form  is filed to  register additional securities  for an  offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and  list  the  Securities  Act registration  statement  number  of  the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]_______

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

     If  delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]
                            ------------------------
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          PROPOSED
                                                                          MAXIMUM         PROPOSED MAXIMUM        AMOUNT OF
                        TITLE OF SECURITIES            AMOUNT TO BE     OFFERING PRICE        AGGREGATE         REGISTRATION
                          TO BE REGISTERED               REGISTERED       PER NOTE(1)      OFFERING PRICE(1)        FEE(2)
 
<S>                                                     <C>              <C>               <C>                   <C>
 
   % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006..............   $ 135,000,000       100%             $ 135,000,000         $ 46,552

</TABLE>
 
(1) Estimated solely for purposes of  determining the registration fee  pursuant
    to Rule 457 under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
(2) The  registration fee  has been calculated  pursuant to Section  6(b) of the
    Securities Act  of 1933  as  follows: one  twenty-ninth  of one  percent  of
    $135,000,000, the proposed maximum aggregate price of the Notes.
                            ------------------------
     THE  REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS  THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT  ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A  FURTHER  AMENDMENT  WHICH SPECIFICALLY  STATES  THAT  THIS  REGISTRATION
STATEMENT  SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN  ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT  OF 1933  OR UNTIL  THE REGISTRATION  STATEMENT SHALL  BECOME
EFFECTIVE  ON  SUCH  DATE  AS THE  SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION, ACTING
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.
 
________________________________________________________________________________


<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 16, 1996
 
PROSPECTUS
                                  $135,000,000
                         LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORPORATION
                      % SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2006
                (Interest payable          and                )
                            ------------------------
     The  Notes will bear interest from the date of their original issue, at the
rate per annum set forth above, payable semiannually on each                 and
               ,  commencing                   , 1997.  The Notes will mature on
               , 2006 and are not redeemable  by the Company prior to  maturity.
Upon  a Change  of Control  (as defined), each  Noteholder will  have the right,
subject to  certain  conditions and  restrictions,  to require  the  Company  to
repurchase  the  Notes at  101% of  the principal  amount thereof,  plus accrued
interest.
 
     The Notes will be subordinated to  all Senior Indebtedness (as defined)  of
the   Company.  At  June  30,  1996,   the  Company's  Senior  Indebtedness  was
$150,000,000 and the indebtedness of the Company's consolidated subsidiaries, to
which the  Notes are  effectively subordinated,  was $21,939,000,  exclusive  of
customer  banking deposits ('Deposits'). The Notes will rank pari passu with the
Company's 8 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2005, of which, at June 30, 1996,
$100,000,000 aggregate principal amount was outstanding, and any 10 3/8%  Senior
Subordinated  Notes due 2002 (the '10 3/8% Notes') that remain outstanding after
the Tender  Offer  (as  defined),  of which,  at  June  30,  1996,  $125,000,000
aggregate principal amount was outstanding.
 
     On  September  16, 1996,  the Company  commenced a  cash tender  offer (the
'Tender Offer')  for all  of the  $125,000,000 outstanding  aggregate  principal
amount  of the 10 3/8%  Notes at a price of  $1,070 per $1,000 principal amount,
plus accrued interest thereon  to, but not including,  the payment date for  the
10 3/8% Notes pursuant to the Tender Offer. This offering is contingent upon not
less than 80% of the outstanding principal amount of 10 3/8% Notes being validly
tendered  and not withdrawn  pursuant to the  Tender Offer. The  net proceeds of
this offering will be used  to purchase 10 3/8%  Notes tendered pursuant to  the
Tender  Offer.  See 'Use  of  Proceeds.' The  Company  may reduce  the aggregate
principal amount of  Notes actually offered  hereunder if less  than all of  the
outstanding 10 3/8% Notes are tendered in the Tender Offer.
 
                            ------------------------
 
     Application will be made to list the Notes on the New York Stock Exchange.
 
                            ------------------------
THESE  SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
   EXCHANGE COMMISSION  OR  ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION NOR  HAS  THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
       PASSED  UPON  THE ACCURACY  OR ADEQUACY  OF THIS  PROSPECTUS. ANY
             REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                            ------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PRICE TO      UNDERWRITING  PROCEEDS TO
                                                                           PUBLIC(1)     DISCOUNT(2)    COMPANY(3)
                                                                         -------------   -----------   ------------
<S>                                                                      <C>             <C>           <C>
Per Note..............................................................         %              %             %
Total.................................................................   $               $             $
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from the date of original issue of the Notes.
(2) The Company  has  agreed  to  indemnify  the  Underwriters  against  certain
    liabilities,  including  liabilities under  the Securities  Act of  1933, as
    amended. See 'Underwriting.'
(3) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $    .
 
                            ------------------------
     The Notes are offered by the Underwriters, subject to prior sale, when,  as
and  if issued to and accepted by them, and subject to approval of certain legal
matters by counsel  for the Underwriters.  It is expected  that delivery of  the
Notes  will be made against  payment therefor in New York,  New York on or about
                  , 1996.
 
                            ------------------------
JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.                                        CS FIRST BOSTON
                        , 1996
 
INFORMATION  CONTAINED  HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT   TO  COMPLETION  OR  AMENDMENT.   A
REGISTRATION  STATEMENT RELATING  TO THESE  SECURITIES HAS  BEEN FILED  WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES  MAY NOT BE  SOLD NOR  MAY
OFFERS  TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO  THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS  PROSPECTUS  SHALL  NOT  CONSTITUTE AN  OFFER  TO  SELL  OR  THE
SOLICITATION  OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER,  SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL  PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The  Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act  of  1934, as  amended  (the  'Exchange Act'),  and  in  accordance
therewith  files  reports,  proxy  statements  and  other  information  with the
Securities and  Exchange  Commission  (the  'Commission').  The  reports,  proxy
statements and other information filed by the Company with the Commission can be
inspected  and  copied  at the  public  reference facilities  maintained  by the
Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and  at
the Commission's Regional Offices at 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York,
New  York 10048 and  Northwestern Atrium Center, 500  West Madison Street, Suite
1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511. Copies of such material also can be obtained
from the Public Reference Section of  the Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549  at
prescribed  rates. The Commission  maintains a site  on the World  Wide Web that
contains  reports,  proxy  and  information  statements  and  other  information
regarding   registrants  that   file  electronically  with   the  Commission  at
http://www.sec.gov. In addition, material filed by the Company can be  inspected
at  the offices  of the  New York  Stock Exchange,  Inc. (the  'NYSE'), 20 Broad
Street, New York, New York 10005  and the Pacific Stock Exchange,  Incorporated,
301  Pine Street, San Francisco, California 94104, on which the Company's common
shares, par value $1.00 per share (the 'Common Shares'), are listed.
 
     The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on  Form
S-3  (together with any amendments  thereto, the 'Registration Statement') under
the Securities Act of 1933, as  amended (the 'Securities Act'), with respect  to
the  securities  offered  hereby.  This  Prospectus  does  not  contain  all the
information set forth in the Registration Statement. Such additional information
may be obtained from the Commission's principal office in Washington, D.C.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
     The following documents  which have  been filed  by the  Company (File  No.
1-5721) with the Commission are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus:
 
          (a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     December 31, 1995 (the 'Annual Report');
 
          (b) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
     ended March 31, 1996; and
 
          (c) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
     ended June 30, 1996 (the 'Second Quarter 10-Q').
 
     All  documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange  Act after the  date of this Prospectus  and prior to  the
termination  of the offering of the Notes contemplated hereby shall be deemed to
be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
date of  filing  of  such  documents. Any  statement  contained  in  a  document
incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall
be  deemed to be modified  or superseded for all  purposes of this Prospectus to
the extent  that a  statement  contained herein  or  in any  subsequently  filed
document  which also is  incorporated or deemed to  be incorporated by reference
herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified  or
superseded  shall  not  be  deemed,  except as  so  modified  or  superseded, to
constitute a part of this Prospectus.
 
     The Company will provide without  charge to each person  to whom a copy  of
this  Prospectus has  been delivered,  on the  written or  oral request  of such
person, a copy of any and all of the documents referred to above which have been
or may be incorporated in this  Prospectus by reference, other than exhibits  to
such  documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference
therein. Requests  for such  copies  should be  directed to:  Leucadia  National
Corporation, 315 Park Avenue South, New York, N.Y. 10010 (telephone number (212)
460-1900), Attention: Corporate Secretary.
 
                            ------------------------
 
     IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS  WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICES OF THE NOTES OFFERED
HEREBY AND THE COMPANY'S OUTSTANDING 8 1/4% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE  2005,
10  3/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2002 AND  7 3/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013 AT
LEVELS ABOVE  THOSE WHICH  MIGHT  OTHERWISE PREVAIL  IN  THE OPEN  MARKET.  SUCH
TRANSACTIONS   MAY  BE  EFFECTED  ON  THE   NEW  YORK  STOCK  EXCHANGE,  IN  THE
OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET OR  OTHERWISE. SUCH  STABILIZING, IF  COMMENCED, MAY  BE
DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
     FOR NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS: THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE OF THE STATE OF
NORTH  CAROLINA  HAS  NOT APPROVED  OR  DISAPPROVED  THIS OFFERING  NOR  HAS THE
COMMISSIONER PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
 
                                       2

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
     This  summary  is qualified  in its  entirety  by the  detailed information
appearing elsewhere or  incorporated by  reference in this  Prospectus. As  used
herein,   the  term  'Company'  means  Leucadia  National  Corporation  and  its
subsidiaries, except as the context otherwise may require.
 
                                  THE OFFERING
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
Issue........................................  $135,000,000  principal  amount  of            %  Senior  Subordi-
                                                 nated Notes due 2006 (the 'Notes').
Maturity.....................................           , 2006.
Interest Rate................................     % per annum.
Interest Payment Dates.......................               and              , commencing                 , 1997.
Optional Redemption..........................  The Notes are not redeemable at the option of the Company prior to
                                                 maturity.
Mandatory Redemption.........................  The Notes are not subject to sinking fund payments.
Certain Covenants............................  The   indenture  under  which  the   Notes  will  be  issued  (the
                                                 'Indenture') will contain covenants  which, among other  things,
                                                 place  restrictions  on  the  ability  of  the  Company  and its
                                                 subsidiaries to incur additional  indebtedness, to make  certain
                                                 investments,  to redeem or repurchase shares of capital stock of
                                                 the  Company  and  to  enter  into  certain  transactions   with
                                                 affiliates,   on   the  ability   of  the   Company's  insurance
                                                 subsidiaries to invest in  non-investment grade investments  and
                                                 on the ability of the Company to pay dividends and to consummate
                                                 certain  mergers.  In  addition, if  the  Company's Consolidated
                                                 Tangible Net Worth (as defined) is below a certain level at  the
                                                 end  of  two consecutive  fiscal quarters,  the Company  will be
                                                 required, under certain circumstances, to offer to repurchase  a
                                                 portion  of the  Notes at 100%  of their  principal amount, plus
                                                 accrued but unpaid interest to the repurchase date. In the event
                                                 of a Change of Control (as defined) of the Company, each  holder
                                                 of  a  Note (a  'Noteholder') will  have  the right,  subject to
                                                 certain exceptions, to require the Company to repurchase all  or
                                                 any  portion of such Noteholder's Notes at 101% of the principal
                                                 amount thereof, plus accrued but unpaid interest to the date  of
                                                 such repurchase.
Ranking......................................  The  Notes will be subordinated to  all existing and future Senior
                                                 Indebtedness.  At   June   30,  1996,   the   Company's   Senior
                                                 Indebtedness  was  $150,000,000  and  the  indebtedness  of  the
                                                 Company's consolidated  subsidiaries,  to which  the  Notes  are
                                                 effectively   subordinated,   was   $21,939,000,   exclusive  of
                                                 Deposits. The  Notes will  rank pari  passu with  the  Company's
                                                 8  1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2005 (the '8 1/4% Notes'),
                                                 of which,  at June  30, 1996,  $100,000,000 aggregate  principal
                                                 amount  was  outstanding,  and  any 10  3/8%  Notes  that remain
                                                 outstanding after completion of the  Tender Offer, of which,  at
                                                 June 30, 1996, $125,000,000 was outstanding. The Notes will rank
                                                 senior   to  the  Company's   5  1/4%  Convertible  Subordinated
                                                 Debentures  due  2003  (the  '5  1/4%  Debentures'),  of   which
                                                 $100,000,000  aggregate principal amount was outstanding at June
                                                 30, 1996. The Company may  not incur any indebtedness senior  to
                                                 the Notes which is not Senior Indebtedness.
</TABLE>
 
                                       3
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
Listing......................................  Application will be made to list the Notes on the NYSE.
Use of Proceeds..............................  The  net proceeds to  the Company from  the sale of  the Notes are
                                                 estimated to be $         .  Such net proceeds  will be used  to
                                                 purchase 10 3/8% Notes tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer. If
                                                 less  than all  of the outstanding  10 3/8%  Notes are purchased
                                                 pursuant to  the  Tender  Offer,  the  Company  may  reduce  the
                                                 aggregate  principal amount of Notes actually offered hereunder.
                                                 To the extent the net proceeds of the offering exceed the amount
                                                 necessary to purchase the 10 3/8% Notes tendered pursuant to the
                                                 Tender Offer, such excess net proceeds will be used for  general
                                                 corporate  purposes, which may  include the purchase  of 10 3/8%
                                                 Notes in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions
                                                 or the  redemption  of  the  10  3/8%  Notes  (which  are  first
                                                 redeemable  on  June 15,  1997  at a  price  of 104.5%  of their
                                                 principal amount, plus accrued and  unpaid interest, if any,  to
                                                 the  date of redemption) or for working capital, acquisitions or
                                                 investment opportunities. See 'Use of Proceeds.'
</TABLE>
 
                                       4

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                  THE COMPANY
 
GENERAL
 
     The Company is a diversified financial services holding company principally
engaged  in personal  and commercial lines  of property  and casualty insurance,
life and health insurance,  banking and lending  and manufacturing. The  Company
concentrates   on  return  on  investment  and  cash  flow  to  build  long-term
shareholder value, rather than emphasizing volume or market share. Additionally,
the Company continuously evaluates the retention and disposition of its existing
operations and investigates possible acquisitions of new businesses in order  to
maximize shareholder value.
 
     Shareholders'  equity has grown  to $1,102,402,000 at June  30, 1996 from a
deficit of  $7,657,000 at  December 31,  1978  (prior to  the acquisition  of  a
controlling  interest in the  Company by the  Company's Chairman and President),
and book  value per  common share  has grown  to $18.28  at June  30, 1996  from
negative  $.11 at  December 31, 1978.  The Company's Chairman  and President and
their families currently beneficially own in the aggregate approximately 35%  of
the Company's outstanding Common Shares.
 
     The  Company's principal operations are  its insurance businesses, where it
is a specialty  markets provider  of property  and casualty  and life  insurance
products  to  niche markets.  The Company's  principal personal  lines insurance
products are  automobile insurance,  homeowners insurance,  graded benefit  life
insurance  marketed  primarily to  the age  50-and-over population  and variable
annuity products.  The Company's  principal commercial  lines are  property  and
casualty  products  provided for  multi-family  residential real  estate, retail
establishments  and  taxicabs  and  other  livery  vehicles  in  the  New   York
metropolitan area. For the year ended December 31, 1995, the Company's insurance
segments   contributed  78%  of  total  revenues  and,  at  December  31,  1995,
constituted 77% of consolidated assets.
 
     The property and casualty insurance industry, which is highly regulated and
competitive, has  historically been  cyclical in  nature, with  periods of  less
intense price competition and high underwriting standards generating significant
profits,   followed  by  periods  of   increased  price  competition  and  lower
underwriting standards resulting in reduced  profitability or loss. The  current
cycle of intense price competition has continued for a longer period than in the
past,  suggesting that the significant infusion  of capital into the industry in
recent years, coupled with larger investment returns has been, and may  continue
to  be, a  depressing influence  on policy rates.  As indicated  in the Selected
Financial Data included herein, the statutory combined ratios for the  Company's
property  and casualty business have been  better than the industry averages for
each of the  past five years.  This has been  due, in part,  to the low  expense
ratios of the Company's insurance subsidiaries.
 
     The   Company's  insurance  subsidiaries   have  a  diversified  investment
portfolio of securities, substantially all of which are issued or guaranteed  by
the  U.S. Treasury  or by  U.S. governmental  agencies or  are rated 'investment
grade' by Moody's Investors  Service Inc. ('Moody's')  and/or Standard &  Poor's
Corporation   ('S&P').   Investments  in   mortgage   loans,  real   estate  and
non-investment grade securities represented 2.5% of the insurance  subsidiaries'
portfolio at December 31, 1995.
 
     The  Company's banking and lending operations principally consist of making
instalment loans to niche  markets primarily funded by  Deposits insured by  the
Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Company.  One of  the  Company's  principal lending
activities is  providing  automobile  loans  to  individuals  with  poor  credit
histories. The Company's manufacturing operations primarily manufacture products
for the 'do-it-yourself' home improvement market and for industrial markets.
 
     At  December 31,  1995, the Company  had minimum tax  loss carryforwards of
approximately  $141,600,000.  The  amount  and  availability  of  the  tax  loss
carryforwards   are   subject   to  certain   qualifications,   limitations  and
uncertainties as  more fully  discussed  in Note  14  of Notes  to  Consolidated
Financial Statements contained in the Annual Report.
 
                                       5
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
     On  September 16, 1996, the Company  commenced the Tender Offer to purchase
for cash all of the outstanding  $125,000,000 aggregate principal amount of  the
10  3/8% Notes at  a price of  $1,070 per $1,000  principal amount, plus accrued
interest thereon to,  but not including  the payment date  therefor. The  Tender
Offer  is conditioned  upon, among  other conditions,  the consummation  of this
offering and the valid tender (without withdrawal)  of not less than 80% of  the
outstanding  principal amount of  the 10 3/8%  Notes, and will  be funded by the
application of the net proceeds from this offering, which is intended to replace
the indebtedness  represented by  the 10  3/8% Notes  with indebtedness  bearing
interest at a lower rate and maturing at a later date.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Notes are estimated to
be  $              . Such  net proceeds will  be used to  purchase 10 3/8% Notes
tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer, of which $125,000,000 aggregate principal
amount is outstanding. If  less than all  of the outstanding  10 3/8% Notes  are
purchased  pursuant to  the Tender Offer,  the Company may  reduce the aggregate
principal amount of  Notes actually  offered hereunder.  To the  extent the  net
proceeds  of the offering  exceed the amount  necessary to purchase  the 10 3/8%
Notes tendered pursuant to  the Tender Offer, such  excess net proceeds will  be
used  for general corporate purposes, which may  include the purchase of 10 3/8%
Notes in  the  open  market  or in  privately  negotiated  transactions  or  the
redemption  of the 10 3/8% Notes (which are first redeemable on June 15, 1997 at
a price of 104.5% of their  principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid  interest,
if  any, to  the date  of redemption)  or for  working capital,  acquisitions or
investment opportunities. The stated maturity of  the 10 3/8% Notes is June  15,
2002.  Except  as  otherwise publicly  disclosed,  the Company  has  no material
arrangement, commitment  or understanding  with respect  to any  acquisition  or
investment  opportunity. Pending  such uses,  the proceeds  will be  invested in
short-term investment grade obligations.
 
                                       6
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
     The following table sets forth the (unaudited) consolidated  capitalization
of  the Company at June 30, 1996, and as  adjusted to give effect to the sale of
the Notes and the use of the net proceeds therefrom to purchase all  outstanding
10 3/8% Notes pursuant to the Tender Offer.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                           AS
                                                                                           ACTUAL       ADJUSTED
                                                                                         ----------    ----------
                                                                                              (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<S>                                                                                      <C>           <C>
Long-term debt (a):
     Revolving bank credit agreement borrowings.......................................   $   --        $   --
     Term loans with banks, due in 1999...............................................       50,000        50,000
     7 3/4% Senior Notes due 2013, less debt discount of $856.........................       99,144        99,144
     Industrial revenue bonds.........................................................        5,600         5,600
     Other senior debt................................................................       16,339        16,339
        % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006..........................................       --           135,000
     8 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2005........................................      100,000       100,000
     10 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2002, less debt
       discount of $559...............................................................      124,441        --
     5 1/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2003..............................      100,000       100,000
                                                                                         ----------    ----------
          Total long-term debt, including current maturities..........................      495,524       506,083
                                                                                         ----------    ----------
Shareholders' Equity (b):
     Common shares, par value $1 per share, authorized 150,000,000 shares; 60,316,825
      shares issued and outstanding, after deducting shares held in treasury..........       60,317        60,317
     Additional paid-in capital.......................................................      160,506       160,506
     Net unrealized (loss) on investments.............................................       (8,522)       (8,522)
     Retained earnings................................................................      890,101       881,796(c)
                                                                                         ----------    ----------
          Total shareholders' equity..................................................    1,102,402     1,094,097
                                                                                         ----------    ----------
               Total..................................................................   $1,597,926    $1,600,180
                                                                                         ----------    ----------
                                                                                         ----------    ----------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
 (a) Excludes  Deposits  of  approximately  $211,020,000.  For  information with
     respect to interest rates, maturities, priorities and restrictions  related
     to  outstanding  long-term debt  and the  Notes,  see Note  10 of  Notes to
     Consolidated Financial  Statements  contained  in  the  Annual  Report  and
     'Description of Notes,' respectively.
 
 (b) For  information with respect to  stock options and contingent obligations,
     see Notes 11 and 17 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained
     in the Annual Report.
 
 (c) Reflects a  $8,305,000 extraordinary  loss, net  of taxes,  related to  the
     early extinguishment of the 10 3/8% Notes pursuant to the Tender Offer.
 
                                       7
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                            SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
     The  selected  financial data  set forth  below has  been derived  from and
should be read in  conjunction with the audited  financial statements and  other
financial  information contained  in the  Annual Report  and with  the unaudited
financial  statements  contained   in  the  Second   Quarter  10-Q,  which   are
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    SIX MONTHS
                                  ENDED JUNE 30,                                YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                               ---------------------     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 1996         1995          1995           1994           1993           1992           1991
                               --------     --------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
                                                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND RATIOS)
<S>                            <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
SELECTED INCOME STATEMENT
  DATA:(a)
  Revenues.................    $763,139     $737,445     $1,558,314     $1,384,385     $1,408,058     $1,573,015     $1,086,748
  Net securities gains
    (losses)...............      11,575         (228)        20,027        (12,004)        51,923         51,778         50,391
  Interest expense(b)......      27,282       24,405         52,871         44,003         39,465         38,507         36,925
  Insurance losses, policy
    benefits and
    amortization of
    deferred acquisition
    costs..................     486,284      452,428        942,803        819,010        789,752        896,673        558,127
  Income before income
    taxes and cumulative
    effects of changes in
    accounting
    principles.............      40,422       47,703        132,182        100,318        176,868        143,553         95,030
  Income before cumulative
    effects of changes in
    accounting
    principles(c)..........      28,774       33,732        107,503         70,836        116,259        130,607         94,830
  Cumulative effects of
    changes in accounting
    principles.............          --           --             --             --        129,195             --             --
  Net income...............      28,774       33,732        107,503         70,836        245,454        130,607         94,830
  Ratio of earnings to
    fixed charges:(d)
    Excluding interest on
      Deposits.............       2.89x        3.20x          3.84x          3.49x          5.80x          5.24x          4.54x
    Including interest on
      Deposits.............       2.50x        2.75x          3.26x          3.08x          4.86x          4.14x          3.27x
  Per share:
  Primary earnings per
    common and dilutive
    common equivalent
    share:
    Income before
      cumulative effects of
      changes in accounting
      principles...........        $.48         $.58          $1.81          $1.22          $1.98          $2.67          $2.00
    Cumulative effects of
      changes in accounting
      principles...........          --           --             --             --           2.21             --             --
                                  -----         -----         -----          -----          -----          -----          -----
      Net income...........        $.48         $.58          $1.81          $1.22          $4.19          $2.67          $2.00
                                  -----         -----         -----          -----          -----          -----          -----
                                  -----         -----         -----          -----          -----          -----          -----
  Fully diluted earnings
    per common share:
    Income before
      cumulative effects of
      changes in accounting
      principles...........        $.48         $.57          $1.77          $1.21          $1.94          $2.66          $1.98
    Cumulative effects of
      changes in accounting
      principles...........          --           --             --             --           2.10             --             --
                                  -----         -----         -----          -----          -----          -----          -----
      Net income...........        $.48         $.57          $1.77          $1.21          $4.04          $2.66          $1.98
                                  -----         -----         -----          -----          -----          -----          -----
                                  -----         -----         -----          -----          -----          -----          -----
  Number of shares used in
    calculation:
    Primary................      60,569       58,587         59,271         58,202         58,539         48,870         47,409
    Fully Diluted..........      60,569       62,140         62,807         61,715         61,486         49,032         47,835
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
Footnotes on following page.
 
                                       8
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              AT JUNE 30,                             AT DECEMBER 31,
                              -----------    ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 1996           1995          1994          1993          1992          1991
                              -----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------
                                                  (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                           <C>            <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET
  DATA:(a)
  Cash and investments.....   $3,055,323     $3,146,639    $2,764,890    $2,989,384    $3,371,624    $3,627,542
  Total assets.............    5,150,133      5,107,874     4,674,046     4,689,272     4,330,580     4,590,096
  Debt, including current
    maturities.............      495,524        520,862       425,848       401,335       225,588       220,728
  Customer banking
    deposits...............      211,020        203,061       179,888       173,365       186,339       194,862
  Common shareholders'
    equity.................    1,102,402      1,111,491       881,815       907,856       618,161       365,495
  Book value per Common
    Share..................       $18.28         $18.47        $15.72        $16.27        $11.06         $7.95
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 SIX MONTHS
                               ENDED JUNE 30,                 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                               ---------------     ---------------------------------------------
                               1996      1995      1995      1994      1993      1992      1991
                               -----     -----     -----     -----     -----     -----     -----
<S>                            <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
SELECTED INFORMATION ON
  PROPERTY
  AND CASUALTY INSURANCE
  OPERATIONS
  (Unaudited):(a)(e)(f)
  GAAP Combined Ratio......    104.5%    102.2%    103.5%     99.1%     96.9%    101.7%    102.1%
  SAP Combined Ratio.......    100.5%     99.4%    101.2%     98.8%     93.7%    102.8%    103.3%
  Industry SAP Combined
    Ratio(g)...............      N/A     106.3%    106.4%    108.4%    106.9%    115.7%    108.8%
  Premium to Surplus
    Ratio(h)...............      N/A       N/A       1.8x      1.9x      1.6x      2.0x      2.2x
</TABLE>
- ------------
 (a) Data includes acquired companies from date of acquisition.
 
 (b) Includes  interest on customer banking deposits of $12,034,000, $8,304,000,
     $9,001,000, $11,954,000 and  $15,138,000 for the  years ended December  31,
     1995,   1994,  1993,  1992  and  1991,  respectively,  and  $6,322,000  and
     $5,680,000 for  the  six  month  periods ended  June  30,  1996  and  1995,
     respectively.
 
 (c) The  provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994
     and 1993 and for the  six month periods ended June  30, 1996 and 1995  were
     calculated  under  Statement  of Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 109,
     'Accounting for  Income Taxes,'  which does  not reflect  the benefit  from
     utilization  of tax loss carryforwards. The  provision for income taxes for
     the years  ended December  31, 1992  and  1991 have  been reduced  for  the
     benefit from utilization of tax loss carryforwards.
 
 (d) For  purposes of  computing these  ratios, earnings  represent consolidated
     pre-tax  income  before  cumulative   effects  of  changes  in   accounting
     principles  and equity in  undistributed earnings or loss  of less than 50%
     owned companies, plus 'fixed charges.' Fixed charges excluding interest  on
     Deposits  include interest expense (other than on Deposits), the portion of
     net rental expense representative of  the interest factor and  amortization
     of  debt expense. Fixed charges including  interest on Deposits include all
     interest expense, the portion of  net rental expense representative of  the
     interest factor and amortization of debt expense.
 
 (e) Combined  Ratios and  the Premium to  Surplus Ratios  include both Colonial
     Penn Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries for the relevant periods since August
     16, 1991 and Empire Insurance Company.
 
 (f) The Combined  Ratio is  the sum  of  the Loss  Ratio and  the  Underwriting
     Expense  Ratio determined in accordance  with generally accepted accounting
     principles or statutory accounting principles ('SAP'), as the case may  be.
     The Loss Ratio is the ratio of incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses
     to  net premiums  earned. The  Expense Ratio  is the  ratio of underwriting
     expenses  (policy  acquisition   costs,  commissions  and   a  portion   of
     administrative,  general  and other  expenses attributable  to underwriting
     operations) to net premiums written, if determined in accordance with  SAP,
     or  to  net premiums  earned, if  determined  in accordance  with generally
     accepted accounting principles.  A Combined Ratio  under 100% indicates  an
     underwriting   profit  and  a  Combined   Ratio  above  100%  indicates  an
     underwriting loss.  The  Combined Ratio  does  not include  the  effect  of
     investment income. Certain accident and health insurance business, which is
     included  in  the  statutory  results of  operations  of  the  property and
     casualty insurance segment and is reflected  in the SAP Combined Ratio,  is
     reported in the life insurance segment for financial reporting purposes and
     therefore is not included in the GAAP Combined Ratios reflected herein. For
     the  six month periods ended June 30, 1996 and 1995, the difference between
     the GAAP Combined  Ratio and  the SAP Combined  Ratio principally  reflects
     adjustments  to SAP reinsurance  reserves and, in  1996, the accounting for
     certain expenses  which are  treated differently  under SAP  and  generally
     accepted  accounting  principles.  For  1995,  a  change  in  the statutory
     accounting treatment for retrospectively  rated reinsurance agreements  was
     the principal reason for the difference between the GAAP Combined Ratio and
     the  SAP Combined Ratio. For 1993, the difference in the treatment of costs
     for generally  accepted  accounting  principles  and  SAP  purposes  was  a
     principal reason for the difference between the GAAP Combined Ratio and the
     SAP  Combined Ratio. For  1992, the results of  certain accident and health
     insurance business had a  non-recurring income item  which reduced the  SAP
     Combined   Ratio.  In  addition,  in  1992,  certain  income  credits  were
     recognized only for generally accepted accounting principles purposes.
 
 (g) Source: Best's Aggregate & Averages, Property/Casualty, 1996 edition,  with
     respect  to annual  information for  1991 through  1995, and  Best Week P/C
     Supplement,  September  18,  1995  Release  12,  with  respect  to  interim
     information  for 1995. Industry Combined Ratios may not be fully comparable
     as  a  result   of,  among  other   things,  differences  in   geographical
     concentration and in the mix of property and casualty insurance products.
 
 (h) The  Premium to Surplus Ratio was calculated by dividing statutory property
     and casualty insurance premiums written by statutory capital at the end  of
     the year.
                                       9

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                              DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
 
     The  Notes  are  to  be  issued  under  an  Indenture  to  be  dated  as of
               , 1996, between the Company and                , as Trustee  (the
'Trustee').
 
     The statements herein relating to the Notes and the Indenture are summaries
and make use of defined terms in the Indenture, which are incorporated herein by
reference,  and  are qualified  in their  entirety by  express reference  to the
Indenture, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration  Statement
of which this Prospectus is a part.
 
GENERAL
 
     The  Notes will bear interest  from the date of  original issue at the rate
shown on the  cover page  of this  Prospectus, payable  on                   and
            in  each year to the Noteholders of  record at the close of business
on the             and              immediately preceding such interest  payment
date,  commencing               , 1997. The Notes will be due  on              ,
2006, will be issued only in  denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples  of
$1,000,  and will be general unsecured obligations of the Company. The Indenture
authorizes an aggregate principal amount of $135,000,000 of the Notes.
 
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
 
     The Notes  are  not  redeemable at  the  option  of the  Company  prior  to
maturity.
 
SINKING FUND
 
     The Notes are not subject to sinking fund payments.
 
SUBORDINATION OF NOTES
 
     The  payment  of  all  Obligations  with  respect  to  the  Notes  will  be
subordinated in right of payment,  as set forth in  the Indenture, to the  prior
payment  in full of all Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the
Company whether outstanding on the date of the Indenture or thereafter  created,
incurred, assumed or guaranteed. Upon (a) the maturity of Senior Indebtedness by
lapse  of time, acceleration or otherwise or  (b) any distribution of the assets
of the Company upon any  dissolution, winding up, liquidation or  reorganization
of  the Company, the holders of Senior  Indebtedness will be entitled to receive
payment in full before the Noteholders  are entitled to receive any payment.  In
addition,  the  Indenture  will  provide  that no  payments  in  respect  of any
Obligations with respect to the Notes may be made if (i) any payment default  on
any  Senior Indebtedness shall have occurred or (ii) any other default under any
Senior Indebtedness shall have occurred  which would permit the holders  thereof
to  accelerate such Indebtedness  and the Company shall  have received notice of
such default, unless, in  the case of  clauses (i) or  (ii), such default  shall
have  been cured or waived; provided, that  (a) payments on the Notes may resume
in the case of  any default described in  clause (ii) on the  date which is  179
days after the giving of such notice (provided there is not then a default under
clause  (i)) and (b) in  no event shall such  payment blockage be applicable for
more than 179 days in each 360-day period. If in any of the situations  referred
to  in  clause  (i) or  (ii)  above  a payment  is  made  to the  Trustee  or to
Noteholders before all Senior  Indebtedness has been paid  in full or  provision
has  been made for such payment, the  payment to the Trustee or Noteholders must
be paid over to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness.
 
     The Indenture defines 'Senior Indebtedness' to mean all Obligations of  the
Company  with  respect to  the  following, whether  outstanding  at the  date of
original execution of the Indenture or thereafter incurred, created or  assumed:
(a)   indebtedness  of  the  Company  for  money  borrowed,  including,  without
limitation, indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed which is evidenced by
notes, debentures, bonds or other securities  issued under the provisions of  an
indenture  or other instrument,  and also including  indebtedness represented by
Purchase  Money  Obligations  (as  defined),   but  only  to  the  extent   such
indebtedness  is enforceable by a money  judgment; (b) guarantees or assumptions
by the Company of indebtedness  of others of any of  the kinds described in  the
preceding  clause  (a);  and (c)  renewals,  extensions and  refundings  of, and
indebtedness  of  a  successor  corporation   issued  in  exchange  for  or   in
 
                                       10
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
replacement  of, indebtedness, guarantees and assumptions of the kinds described
in the preceding  clauses (a)  or (b),  unless, in  the case  of any  particular
indebtedness,   obligation,   guarantee,  assumption,   renewal,   extension  or
refunding, the instrument  creating or  evidencing the  same expressly  provides
that such indebtedness, obligation, guarantee, assumption, renewal, extension or
refunding  is not  superior in  right of  payment to  the Notes;  provided, that
Senior Indebtedness shall not be deemed  to include (i) any indebtedness of  the
Company  to  any Subsidiary,  (ii) any  liability for  taxes, (iii)  any amounts
payable or other liabilities to trade  creditors arising in the ordinary  course
of  business, (iv) any indebtedness which is  subordinate or junior by its terms
to any other indebtedness of the Company, (v) the 8 1/4% Notes, (vi) the 10 3/8%
Notes or  (vii)  the  5  1/4%  Debentures. At  June  30,  1996,  the  amount  of
outstanding  Senior Indebtedness of the Company  was $150,000,000 and the amount
of indebtedness  of  Subsidiaries  of  the  Company,  to  which  the  Notes  are
effectively   subordinated,  was  $21,939,000,   exclusive  of  $211,020,000  of
Deposits. The Indenture will provide that  no indebtedness of the Company  shall
be  senior in  right of payment  to the  Notes unless such  indebtedness is pari
passu in right of payment with the Company's other Senior Indebtedness.
 
     'Obligations' means any principal,  interest, penalties, fees,  indemnities
and  other obligations and liabilities payable under the documentation governing
the applicable Indebtedness.
 
     By reason  of  such subordination,  in  the event  of  insolvency,  general
creditors  of  the Company  may recover  less, ratably,  than holders  of Senior
Indebtedness and may recover more, ratably, than Noteholders or holders of other
subordinated indebtedness of the Company.
 
     The Notes will rank senior in right of payment to the 5 1/4% Debentures and
pari passu with the 8 1/4% Notes and any 10 3/8% Notes that remain outstanding.
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS
 
     The Indenture will contain the following covenants:
 
     Restriction on Incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company and on  Incurrence
of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock by Its Subsidiaries. The Company
shall  not, and  shall not  permit any Subsidiary  to, create,  incur, assume or
guarantee the  payment of  any Indebtedness,  and shall  not permit  any of  its
Subsidiaries  to issue any  Preferred Stock, if,  at the time  of such event and
after giving  effect  thereto on  a  pro forma  basis,  the Company's  ratio  of
Consolidated Debt to Consolidated Tangible Net Worth, as of the most recent date
for  which consolidated financial statements are  available and adjusted for the
incurrence of  all Indebtedness  and  the issuance  of  all Preferred  Stock  by
Subsidiaries  (other  than Permitted  Indebtedness)  since that  date,  would be
greater than 1.75 to  1. This restriction shall  not preclude the incurrence  of
Permitted Indebtedness.
 
     'Consolidated  Debt' means, on any date,  the sum of (i) total Indebtedness
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, at such date, determined in accordance with
generally accepted  accounting principles  as  in effect  on December  31,  1995
('GAAP')  on a consolidated basis, and (ii) the aggregate liquidation preference
of all Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries of the Company, at such date, other  than
Preferred  Stock  to  the  extent  held by  the  Company  and  its Subsidiaries;
provided, that Consolidated Debt shall not include Permitted Indebtedness.
 
     'Indebtedness' of any Person means (i) any liability of such Person (a) for
borrowed money,  (b)  evidenced  by  a note,  debenture  or  similar  instrument
(including  a Purchase Money Obligation or deferred payment obligation) given in
connection with the acquisition of any property or assets (other than  inventory
or  similar property  acquired in  the ordinary  course of  business), including
securities, (c) for the payment of a Capitalized Lease Obligation of such Person
or (d)  with respect  to the  reimbursement of  any letter  of credit,  banker's
acceptance  or similar  credit transaction (other  than trade  letters of credit
issued in the ordinary  course of business; provided,  that the failure to  make
prompt  reimbursement of any  trade letter of  credit shall be  deemed to be the
incurrence of  Indebtedness); and  (ii)  any guarantee  by  such Person  of  any
liability  of others  described in  clause (i) above  or any  obligation of such
Person with respect to  any liability of others  described in clause (i)  above.
Indebtedness shall not include Deposits.
 
     'Permitted  Indebtedness' means (i) any Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries outstanding on  the date of  the Indenture, or  any refinancing  or
replacement thereof; provided, that the
 
                                       11
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
aggregate   amount  of  such  Indebtedness   is  not  increased,  (ii)  Acquired
Indebtedness, (iii) Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries  held by the Company or  its
Subsidiaries  (it being understood that the sale  of such Preferred Stock by the
Company or such Subsidiary to any Person other than the Company or a  Subsidiary
of  the Company or such Subsidiary no  longer being a Subsidiary shall be deemed
the issuance  of  Preferred Stock  for  purposes of  the  above test)  and  (iv)
intercompany Indebtedness.
 
     'Acquired  Indebtedness' means Indebtedness or  Preferred Stock of a Person
either (i) existing at the time  such Person becomes a Subsidiary, (ii)  assumed
in  connection  with the  acquisition  of assets  of  such Person  or  (iii) any
refinancing or  replacement by  such Person  of such  Indebtedness or  Preferred
Stock;  provided, that  the aggregate amount  of such  Indebtedness or Preferred
Stock then outstanding is not increased. Acquired Indebtedness shall not include
(x) any such Indebtedness created or  Preferred Stock issued in anticipation  of
such  Person becoming a  Subsidiary (other than a  refinancing or replacement of
Indebtedness or Preferred Stock of  such Person, which original Indebtedness  or
Preferred  Stock  was not  incurred  or issued  in  anticipation of  such Person
becoming a  Subsidiary), or  (y) any  Indebtedness or  Preferred Stock  that  is
recourse  to the Company  or any Subsidiary  or any of  their respective assets,
other than to such Person and its Subsidiaries and their respective assets.
 
     Restriction on Investments  by Insurance Subsidiaries.  The Indenture  will
provide  that the Company shall not permit  any Subsidiary which is an insurance
company to make, directly or indirectly, any Investment other than in Investment
Grade Securities if, after giving effect thereto at the time of such Investment,
less than  80% of  the aggregate  Investments of  such insurance  company  would
consist of Investment Grade Securities, valuing Investments for purposes of this
restriction  at original cost. The foregoing  restriction shall not (i) apply to
Investments in the Company  or any Subsidiary of  the Company, (ii) prevent  the
Company  or its  Subsidiaries from  acquiring the  Capital Stock  of, or  all or
substantially all  of the  assets of,  an insurance  company or  (iii) apply  to
securities  issued in a  restructuring or exchange  offer or similar transaction
offered generally  to  all  holders  of  another  security  then  held  by  such
Subsidiary.
 
     'Investment  Grade  Securities'  means  (i) securities  having  any  of the
following ratings: at least BBB-  or the equivalent thereof  by S&P or at  least
Baa3  or the equivalent  thereof by Moody's  or at least  BBB- or the equivalent
thereof by  Duff  &  Phelps  Inc.  ('Duff  &  Phelps')  or  (ii)  cash  or  Cash
Equivalents.
 
     'Cash  Equivalents' shall mean (i) securities  issued or directly and fully
guaranteed or insured  by the  United States  or any  agency or  instrumentality
thereof,  (ii) U.S. dollar  denominated time deposits,  certificates of deposit,
eurodollar  time  deposits,  eurodollar  certificates  of  deposit  and  bankers
acceptances  of  any  domestic  commercial bank  of  recognized  standing having
capital and surplus in excess of  $500 million, (iii) commercial paper having  a
rating  from S&P of at least A-2 or the equivalent thereof or from Moody's of at
least P-2 or the equivalent thereof or from Duff & Phelps of at least D-2 or the
equivalent thereof and maturing within nine months from the date of acquisition,
and (iv) tax-exempt commercial paper of United States municipal, state or  local
governments  rated at least A-2 or the equivalent thereof by S&P or at least P-2
or the equivalent thereof by Moody's or  at least D-2 or the equivalent  thereof
by Duff & Phelps and maturing within nine months from the date of acquisition.
 
     Restricted  Payments and Restricted Investments. The Company shall not, and
shall not permit any Subsidiary to, make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted
Payment or Restricted  Investment if,  immediately after giving  effect to  such
Restricted  Payment or Restricted Investment, as the  case may be: (a) a Default
or Event of Default under the  Indenture shall have occurred and be  continuing,
(b)  the  Company's Consolidated  Tangible  Net Worth  would  be less  than $250
million, (c) the  Company would  not be  permitted to  incur at  least $1.00  of
additional  Indebtedness  (other than  Permitted  Indebtedness) pursuant  to the
covenant contained  under  'Restriction on  Incurrence  of Indebtedness  by  the
Company and on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock by its
Subsidiaries'  above or (d) the sum of (x) the aggregate amount expended for all
Restricted Payments subsequent to March 31, 1992 and (y) the aggregate amount of
Restricted Investments made subsequent  to March 31,  1992 and then  outstanding
reduced  by any write down of any  such Restricted Investment to the extent that
such write  down  otherwise  reduced  Consolidated Net  Income  (the  amount  so
expended  for a Restricted Payment or a  Restricted Investment, if other than in
cash, to  be  determined  by  the  Board of  Directors  of  the  Company,  whose
determination    shall    be    conclusive   and    evidenced    by    a   Board
 
                                       12
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
Resolution) would exceed the sum  of (1) $35 million,  (2) 50% of the  aggregate
Consolidated  Net  Income  of  the  Company  (or  minus  100%  of  the aggregate
Consolidated Net Loss of the Company)  accrued on a cumulative basis  subsequent
to  March 31, 1992, and (3) the aggregate net proceeds, including the fair value
of property other  than cash (as  determined by  the Board of  Directors of  the
Company,  whose  determination  shall be  conclusive  and evidenced  by  a Board
Resolution), received by the Company in respect of the issue or sale  subsequent
to March 31, 1992 of (i) any shares of Capital Stock of the Company, or (ii) any
Indebtedness  of  the Company  to  the extent  converted  into or  exchanged for
Capital Stock  of  the Company  subsequent  to  March 31,  1992.  The  foregoing
restrictions  shall not prevent (x) the  payment of any dividend or distribution
within 60  days after  the  date of  declaration thereof,  if  at such  date  of
declaration  such payment  complied with  the foregoing  provisions, or  (y) the
retirement of any shares of the Company's Capital Stock by exchange for, or upon
conversion of,  or out  of the  proceeds of  the substantially  concurrent  sale
(other  than  to a  Subsidiary) of,  other shares  of the  Capital Stock  of the
Company, and neither such retirement, exchange or conversion nor the proceeds of
any such sale shall be included in any computation made above. At June 30, 1996,
the amount  available for  Restricted Payments  and Restricted  Investments  was
approximately  38% of the Company's total  shareholders' equity at that date. On
the first  day  on  which  the  aggregate  Restricted  Payments  and  Restricted
Investments  exceed  by  $100 million  (calculated  on  the date  of  payment or
investment) the amount  of Restricted Payments  and Restricted Investments  that
could  otherwise  be  made pursuant  to  this  paragraph if  gains  on  sales of
segments, businesses or  major lines of  business, net of  losses on such  sales
(whether  sold as  assets or  stock), had been  excluded from  the definition of
'Consolidated Net Income,' then  each Noteholder shall have  the right, at  such
Noteholder's  option, to require the Company to  purchase all or any portion (in
integral multiples  of  $1,000)  of  such Noteholder's  Notes  at  101%  of  the
principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest; provided, that the Company will
not  be obligated to  purchase any of  such Notes unless  Noteholders holding at
least 10% of the  Notes outstanding at  the date of  such Restricted Payment  or
Restricted  Investment (other than Notes held by the Company and its Affiliates)
shall have tendered their Notes for repurchase. The mechanics, timing and  other
terms  of the offer  will be substantially the  same as those  with respect to a
'Change of Control,' as described below.
 
     'Consolidated Net Income' and 'Consolidated Net Loss' mean, for any period,
the net income or loss, as the case may be, of the Company and its  Subsidiaries
for  such  period determined  on a  consolidated basis  in accordance  with GAAP
(provided, that, for periods  ended prior to January  1, 1995, Consolidated  Net
Income  shall mean the  reported income before cumulative  effects of changes in
accounting principles of the Company and its Subsidiaries); provided, that there
shall be excluded therefrom (to the  extent otherwise included therein) (i)  the
net  income (or net loss) of any Person  that is not the Company or a Subsidiary
of the Company, except net income of  such Person may be included to the  extent
of  the amount of dividends or other  distributions actually paid or made to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries by such other Person during such period, (ii)
except to the extent  includible pursuant to the  foregoing clause (i), the  net
income  (or net loss) of any other Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a
Subsidiary of the Company or is merged into or consolidated with the Company  or
any  of  its Subsidiaries  or such  other  Person's assets  are acquired  by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) all extraordinary gains, to the extent
they exceed extraordinary losses,  in each case,  determined in accordance  with
GAAP  and (iv) all gains  or losses resulting from  the effect of any accounting
change.
 
     'Consolidated Tangible Net Worth' with respect to the Company means, as  of
any date, the total shareholders' equity of the Company determined in accordance
with   GAAP  less  (a)  (to  the   extent  not  otherwise  deducted  from  total
shareholders' equity at such date) the  amount of Restricted Investments of  the
Company  and  its Subsidiaries  outstanding on  such  date and  (b) any  and all
goodwill and other intangible assets reflected on the consolidated balance sheet
of the Company as of such  date. Deferred policy acquisition costs ('DPAC')  and
that  portion of the value  of insurance in force  resulting from an acquisition
and equivalent  to  the  amount  of DPAC  of  the  acquired  entity  outstanding
immediately  prior to  such acquisition  shall not  be deemed  goodwill or other
intangible assets for purposes of determining Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.
 
     'Restricted  Investment'  means,  with  respect  to  the  Company  or   any
Subsidiary  of the Company, an Investment by  such Person in an Affiliate of the
Company (other than (x) in the Company or a
 
                                       13
 
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<PAGE>
Subsidiary of the Company or (y) in a Person that is an Affiliate of the Company
solely because of (i) the ownership of securities of such Person by the  Company
or  its Subsidiaries, (ii) contractual arrangements  between the Company and its
Subsidiaries and such Person or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii)).
 
     'Restricted Payment' means (i) the declaration or making of any dividend or
of any other payment or distribution on or with respect to the Company's Capital
Stock (other than dividends, payments or distributions payable solely in  shares
of  the Company's Capital Stock),  (ii) any payment on  account of the purchase,
redemption, retirement or other acquisition  for value of the Company's  Capital
Stock;  provided, that  so long  as there  shall not  be a  Default or  Event of
Default under the  Indenture any  payment to  the estate  of Ian  M. Cumming  or
Joseph  S. Steinberg (or any trustee or  other legal representative on behalf of
the legatees  or  heirs  of  such  Persons) on  account  of  the  repurchase  or
redemption  of  Voting  Stock  owned  by  such  estates  (or  trustees  or legal
representatives), solely from the net proceeds of any life insurance  maintained
by  the Company on either of such Persons, shall not be a Restricted Payment and
(iii) the  declaration  or  making of  any  dividend  or any  other  payment  or
distribution  with respect to the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Company
and any payment  on account  of the  purchase, redemption,  retirement or  other
acquisition for value of the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Company but,
with  respect to this clause (iii), only to the extent such dividend, payment or
distribution is received  by an  Affiliate of the  Company (other  than (x)  the
Company  or a Subsidiary of the Company or  (y) a Person that is an Affiliate of
the Company solely because of (A) the ownership of securities of such Person  by
the  Company  or  its  Subsidiaries, (B)  contractual  arrangements  between the
Company and its Subsidiaries  and such Person  or (C) a  combination of (A)  and
(B)).
 
     Maintenance  of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth. The Company is required to
furnish the Trustee with an Officers'  Certificate within 55 days after the  end
of  any fiscal quarter (100 days after the end of any fiscal year) notifying the
Trustee that the Company's  Consolidated Tangible Net  Worth has declined  below
the  Minimum Tangible Net  Worth at the end  of any fiscal  quarter in which the
Company's Consolidated Tangible Net Worth has  so declined. If, on the last  day
of  each of  any two  consecutive fiscal  quarters (the  last day  of the second
fiscal quarter being referred to herein  as a 'Deficiency Date'), the  Company's
Consolidated  Tangible Net  Worth is less  than the Minimum  Tangible Net Worth,
then the Company is required, no later  than 65 days after each such  Deficiency
Date  (110 days if such Deficiency Date is  the last day of the Company's fiscal
year), to make an offer to all  Noteholders to purchase (an 'Offer') 10% of  the
aggregate  principal amount of the Notes  originally issued (the 'Offer Amount')
at a purchase price of 100% of  the principal amount of the Notes, plus  accrued
interest  to the date  of purchase. The Offer  is required to  remain open for a
period of 20 business days following its commencement (unless required to remain
open for a  longer period  by applicable  law) and  the Company  is required  to
purchase  the Offer Amount of the Notes on  a designated date no later than five
business days after  the termination of  the Offer  or, if less  than the  Offer
Amount  has been tendered, all Notes  then tendered; provided, however, that the
Company will not be obligated to  purchase any of such Notes unless  Noteholders
holding  at least 10% of  the Offer Amount of Notes  shall have tendered and not
subsequently withdrawn their  Notes for repurchase.  If the aggregate  principal
amount of Notes tendered to the Company exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company is
required  to purchase the Notes tendered to it pro rata among the Notes tendered
(with such adjustments as may be appropriate so that only Notes in denominations
of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof  shall be purchased). The Company  will
comply  with all applicable Federal and state securities laws in connection with
each Offer. In no event will the failure of the Company's Consolidated  Tangible
Net  Worth to equal or exceed  the Minimum Tangible Net Worth  at the end of any
fiscal quarter be counted toward the making of more than one Offer. The  Company
may  reduce the principal amount of Notes  to be purchased pursuant to the Offer
by subtracting 100%  of the principal  amount of Notes  acquired by the  Company
subsequent  to the Deficiency Date through  purchase or exchange and surrendered
for cancellation. The  Company, however,  may not  credit Notes  that have  been
previously  used as a credit against any obligation to repurchase Notes pursuant
to this provision,  pursuant to a  Change of  Control offer or  pursuant to  the
repurchase  obligation  described  under  'Restricted  Payments  and  Restricted
Investments.'
 
     'Minimum Tangible Net Worth' means $250 million.
 
                                       14
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     Limitation on  Payment  Restrictions Affecting  Subsidiaries.  The  Company
shall  not,  and shall  not permit  any Subsidiary  to, directly  or indirectly,
create or  otherwise cause  to  exist or  become  effective any  encumbrance  or
restriction  on the ability of  any Subsidiary to (a)  pay dividends or make any
other distributions on its Capital Stock or any other interest or  participation
in,  or measured by, its profits, owned by the Company or any Subsidiary, or pay
any Indebtedness  owed to  the Company  or  any Subsidiary,  (b) make  loans  or
advances  to the Company or any Subsidiary or (c) transfer any of its properties
or assets to the Company, except for such encumbrances or restrictions  existing
under  or by reasons of (i) applicable  law, (ii) the Indenture, (iii) customary
provisions restricting  subletting  or  assignment  of  any  lease  governing  a
leasehold  interest  of  the  Company or  any  Subsidiary,  (iv)  any instrument
governing  Acquired  Indebtedness,  which  encumbrance  or  restriction  is  not
applicable  to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than
such Person and its Subsidiaries, or the  property or assets of such Person  and
its  Subsidiaries, so  acquired, (v)  Indebtedness existing  on the  date of the
Indenture and any refinancing of such existing Indebtedness so long as the terms
and conditions of any such refinancing  agreements are no less favorable to  the
Company  than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being
refinanced or (vi) other Indebtedness; provided, that the Board of Directors  of
the  Company shall have concluded, in good  faith, that the terms thereof do not
have a materially adverse effect on the Company, on a stand-alone basis, or  the
Company's ability, on a stand-alone basis, to meet its obligations.
 
     Limitation  on Issuance of  Other Subordinated Debt.  The Company shall not
issue,  assume,  guarantee,  incur  or  otherwise  become  liable,  directly  or
indirectly, for any Indebtedness subordinate or junior in ranking in any respect
to any Senior Indebtedness but senior in right of payment to the Notes.
 
REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDERS UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL
 
     In  the event  of any  Change of  Control, each  Noteholder shall  have the
right, at such Noteholder's  option, to require the  Company to purchase all  or
any  portion (in integral multiples of $1,000) of such Noteholder's Notes on the
date (the 'Change of Control Payment Date') which is 20 business days after  the
date  the Change of Control  Notice (as defined below)  is mailed (or such later
date as is required by applicable law) at 101% of the principal amount  thereof,
plus  accrued interest to the Change of Control Payment Date; provided, that the
Company will not be obligated to  purchase any of such Notes unless  Noteholders
holding  at least 10% of the Notes  outstanding at the Change of Control Payment
Date (other  than Notes  held by  the  Company and  its Affiliates)  shall  have
tendered  their Notes for repurchase. In addition, in the event of any Change of
Control, the Company will not, and will  not permit any of its Subsidiaries  to,
purchase  or redeem any Indebtedness ranking junior to the Notes pursuant to any
analogous provisions prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.
 
     The Company is obligated to send  to all Noteholders, within five  business
days  after the occurrence of each Change of Control, a notice of the occurrence
of such Change of Control (the 'Change of Control Notice'), specifying a date by
which a Noteholder  must notify the  Company of such  Noteholder's intention  to
exercise  the repurchase right and describing the procedure that such Noteholder
must follow to exercise such right. The Company is required to deliver a copy of
such notice to the Trustee and to cause a copy of such notice to be published in
a daily newspaper of national circulation. To exercise the repurchase right, the
Noteholder must deliver, on or before the fifth calendar day prior to the Change
of Control Payment Date, written notice  (which shall be irrevocable, except  as
provided  below) to the Company (or an  agent designated by the Company for such
purpose) of the Noteholder's exercise of such right, together with (i) the  Note
or  Notes with respect to which the  right is being exercised, duly endorsed for
transfer with the  form entitled  'Option of Holder  to Elect  Purchase' on  the
reverse  of the Note completed,  and (ii) if the  Change of Control Payment Date
falls between any record date for the  payment of interest on the Notes and  the
next succeeding interest payment date, an amount equal to the interest which the
Noteholder  is entitled  to receive on  such interest payment  date. The Company
will comply with all applicable Federal and state securities laws in  connection
with each Change of Control Notice.
 
     A  'Change of Control' shall be deemed to  occur if (i) the Company has any
other Indebtedness  outstanding (other  than Indebtedness  under a  bank  credit
agreement  or similar bank financing) which provides for a Change of Control (as
defined  in   the   instrument   governing  such   Indebtedness)   if   Ian   M.
 
                                       15
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
Cumming, Chairman of the Board of the Company, or Joseph S. Steinberg, President
of  the  Company,  ceases  to  beneficially own,  in  the  aggregate,  a certain
percentage  of  the  outstanding  Common  Shares,  which  percentage   ownership
requirement  is in  excess of 10%,  and a Change  of Control (as  defined in the
instrument governing such Indebtedness) occurs  under such Indebtedness or  (ii)
at any time when the Company does not have any other Indebtedness outstanding of
the  type referred  to in  clause (i),  Ian M.  Cumming or  Joseph S. Steinberg,
individually or in the aggregate, sells,  transfers or otherwise disposes of  (a
'Disposition'),  after the date  of the Indenture, Common  Shares so that, after
giving effect  thereto,  the sole  beneficial  ownership of  outstanding  Common
Shares  by Mr. Cumming and/or Mr. Steinberg  would, in the aggregate, fall below
10% of the then outstanding Common  Shares; provided, that no Change of  Control
shall  be deemed to  have occurred under clause  (ii) if the  Notes are rated by
Moody's or S&P as Investment Grade both at the time of such Disposition and  for
a period of 90 days from the date of such Disposition (it being understood that,
with  respect to the foregoing  proviso, a Change of  Control shall be deemed to
occur on the first date during such 90-day period when the Notes are rated below
Investment Grade  by both  Moody's  and S&P).  The  term 'Common  Shares'  shall
include  any  securities  issued as  dividends  or distributions  on  the Common
Shares. For purposes hereof, 'sole beneficial ownership' of Common Shares  shall
be deemed to include (i) all Common Shares received after June 15, 1992 from Mr.
Cumming or Mr. Steinberg by any member of their respective immediate families or
by any trust for the benefit of either of them or any member of their respective
immediate  families  (a  'Recipient'),  which Common  Shares  remain  held  by a
Recipient during the  lifetime of  Mr. Cumming  or Mr.  Steinberg (unless  sold,
transferred  or disposed of by such Recipient during the lifetime of Mr. Cumming
or Mr. Steinberg, as  the case may  be, in which case  such Disposition by  such
Recipient shall constitute a Disposition by Mr. Cumming or Mr. Steinberg, as the
case  may be) and (ii) after the death  of Mr. Cumming and/or Mr. Steinberg, all
Common Shares owned as of the date  of death by the decedent, and any  Recipient
of  the decedent,  regardless of  whether such  Recipient continues  to own such
Common Shares after the date of death. In determining the number of  outstanding
Common Shares then held by Messrs. Cumming and Steinberg and the total number of
outstanding  Common Shares, there shall be  excluded Common Shares issued by the
Company after December 31, 1991, or  the conversion into or exchange for,  after
December  31, 1991, Common Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable
for Common Shares. As calculated pursuant to this provision, Messrs. Cumming and
Steinberg beneficially  owned,  in the  aggregate,  approximately 45.8%  of  the
Common Shares as of June 30, 1996.
 
     As   of  the  date  hereof,  the  Company's  most  restrictive  outstanding
Indebtedness that  contains a  change  of control  provision requires  that  Mr.
Cumming  and/or  Mr. Steinberg  continue to  have  sole beneficial  ownership of
outstanding Common Shares equal to at  least 32% of the then outstanding  Common
Shares; provided that, under such Indebtedness, Messrs. Cumming and/or Steinberg
may  sell, transfer or  otherwise dispose of additional  Common Shares if, after
giving effect thereto, they would, in  the aggregate, then have sole  beneficial
ownership  of Common Shares equal to at least 23% of the then outstanding Common
Shares, but only if, after giving effect to any such Disposition, the  aggregate
market  value  of the  Common Shares  then so  owned by  Mr. Cumming  and/or Mr.
Steinberg on  the date  of such  Disposition  would be  at least  $200  million;
provided,  further, that, under such Indebtedness,  upon the death of either Mr.
Cumming or Mr. Steinberg, the aggregate  market value of the Common Shares  then
so  owned by the survivor on the date of such Disposition would be at least $100
million. There can be no assurance  that the Company will have sufficient  funds
or  the financing to satisfy  its obligations to repurchase  the Notes and other
Indebtedness that may  come due  upon a  Change of  Control. In  such case,  the
Company's  failure  to  purchase tendered  Notes  would constitute  an  Event of
Default under the Indenture.
 
     The Noteholders  holding  a majority  in  principal amount  of  Notes  then
outstanding  may waive compliance by the Company of its obligation to repurchase
Notes upon a Change of Control. The  Company may not waive such provisions.  See
'Modification of the Indenture.'
 
     The  term 'Investment Grade' is defined as BBB- or higher by S&P or Baa3 or
higher by Moody's or the equivalent of such ratings by Moody's or S&P.
 
                                       16
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
 
     The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, directly  or
indirectly,  enter into any  transaction or series  of related transactions with
any Affiliate (other than (a) with the  Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary  or
(b)  the  making  of a  Restricted  Payment or  Restricted  Investment otherwise
permitted by the  covenant described under  'Restricted Payments and  Restricted
Investments'  above),  including,  without  limitation,  any  loan,  advance  or
investment or any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of property or the rendering
of any service,  unless such transaction  or series of  transactions is in  good
faith  and at arm's-length and on terms which are at least as favorable as those
available in  a  comparable  transaction  from an  unrelated  Person.  Any  such
transaction  that  involves in  excess of  $10  million shall  be approved  by a
majority of the Independent Directors on the Board of Directors of the  Company;
or,  in the event that at the time  of any such transaction or series of related
transactions there  are  no  Independent  Directors  serving  on  the  Board  of
Directors  of the  Company, such transaction  or series  of related transactions
shall  be  approved  by  a  nationally  recognized  expert  with  experience  in
appraising  the  terms  and conditions  of  the  type of  transaction  for which
approval is required.
 
SUCCESSOR CORPORATION
 
     The Company  may  not consolidate  with,  merge  into or  transfer  all  or
substantially  all  of its  assets (i.e.,  90% or  more) to  another corporation
unless (a) the  successor corporation shall  be existing under  the laws of  the
United  States, any state thereof  or the District of  Columbia, (b) there shall
not be any Default or Event of  Default under the Indenture, (c) such  successor
corporation  assumes all of the  Obligations of the Company  under the Notes and
the Indenture,  (d) after  giving  effect to  such transaction,  such  successor
corporation  shall have a  Consolidated Net Worth  equal to or  greater than the
Company and (e)  after giving effect  to such transaction,  the Company or  such
successor  corporation  is  permitted  to incur  at  least  $1.00  of additional
Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness)  as provided in the  Indenture.
Thereafter all such obligations of the Company will terminate.
 
REPORTS TO NOTEHOLDERS
 
     The  Company will mail  copies of its annual  reports and quarterly reports
mailed to its  shareholders to Noteholders.  If the Company  is not required  to
furnish  annual or quarterly reports to its shareholders, the Company will, upon
request, mail to each Noteholder, at  such Noteholder's address as appearing  on
the  Note register, audited annual  financial statements and unaudited condensed
quarterly financial statements. Such  financial statements shall be  accompanied
by  management's  discussion  and  analysis of  the  results  of  operations and
financial condition of the Company for the period reported upon in substantially
the form required under  the rules and regulations  of the Commission in  effect
from time to time.
 
THE TRUSTEE
 
                                         will   be   the   Trustee   under   the
Indenture.
 
     The Noteholders holding a majority  in principal amount of all  outstanding
Notes will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding  for exercising  any remedy available  to the  Trustee. The Indenture
will provide that, in  case an Event  of Default thereunder  shall occur and  be
continuing,  the Trustee will be required to use the degree of care of a prudent
person in the conduct of his own  affairs in the exercise of its power.  Subject
to  such provisions, the Trustee will be  under no obligation to exercise any of
its rights  or  powers  under  the  Indenture at  the  request  of  any  of  the
Noteholders,  unless  they  shall  have  offered  to  the  Trustee  security and
indemnity satisfactory to it.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND NOTICE THEREOF
 
     The term 'Event of Default' when used  in the Indenture shall mean any  one
of  the  following:  (i)  failure  to pay  (whether  or  not  prohibited  by the
subordination provisions) interest  for 30  days or principal;  (ii) failure  to
perform  any covenants not described in clause  (i) for 30 days after receipt of
 
                                       17
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
notice; (iii)  the  occurrence of  any  event  of default  under  an  instrument
evidencing  or  securing  other  indebtedness of  the  Company  or  any Material
Subsidiary for  borrowed  money  in  excess of  $15  million  resulting  in  the
acceleration  of  such  indebtedness,  which acceleration  is  not  rescinded or
annulled pursuant to the  terms of such instrument;  and (iv) certain events  of
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to the Company or any Material
Subsidiary.
 
     The  term 'Material  Subsidiary' means  (i) any  Subsidiary of  the Company
which at December 31, 1995 was  a 'significant subsidiary' under Regulation  S-X
promulgated  by the Commission or any successor  to such Subsidiary and (ii) any
other Subsidiary of the Company; provided that the Company's investments in  and
advances to such Subsidiary at the date of determination thereof, without giving
effect to any write-downs in such investments or advances taken within the prior
12  months, represent  20% or  more of  the Company's  Consolidated Tangible Net
Worth as  of such  time; provided,  however,  that this  clause (ii)  shall  not
include  any Subsidiary if, at the time that it became a Subsidiary, the Company
contemplated commencing a voluntary case or proceeding under the Bankruptcy  Law
with respect to such Subsidiary.
 
     The Indenture will provide that the Trustee shall, within 90 days after the
occurrence  of  a default,  provide  to the  Noteholders  notice of  all uncured
defaults known to  it (the term  default to include  the events specified  above
without  grace or notice); provided, that, except  in the case of default in the
payment of principal of or  interest on any of the  Notes, the Trustee shall  be
protected  in withholding such notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust
Officers in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in  the
interests of the Noteholders.
 
     In  case an  Event of  Default shall have  occurred and  be continuing, the
Trustee or the Noteholders holding at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of
the Notes then  outstanding, by  notice in  writing to  the Company  and to  the
Trustee, may declare to be due and payable immediately the outstanding principal
amount and accrued interest, premiums, penalties and other amounts in respect of
the  Notes and the Indenture. Such declaration may be annulled and past defaults
(except, unless  theretofore cured,  a default  in payment  of principal  of  or
interest  on the Notes) may be waived by  the holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Notes, upon the conditions provided in the Indenture.
 
     The Indenture will include a covenant  that the Company will file  annually
with  the Trustee a statement regarding compliance by the Company with the terms
thereof and specifying any defaults of which the signers may have knowledge.
 
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE
 
     Under the Indenture,  the rights  and obligations  of the  Company and  the
rights  of Noteholders may be modified by  the Company and the Trustee only with
the consent of  the Noteholders holding  a majority in  principal amount of  the
Notes  then  outstanding; but  no extension  of  the maturity  of any  Notes, or
reduction in the interest rate or extension of the time of payment of  principal
of  or interest  on, or  any change in  the subordination  of the  Notes that is
adverse to the Noteholders, or any other modification in the terms of payment of
the principal  of  or interest  on  the Notes  or  reduction of  the  percentage
required  for modification will be effective against any Noteholder without such
Noteholder's consent. The Noteholders holding a majority in principal amount  of
Notes  then  outstanding  may  waive  compliance  by  the  Company  with certain
covenants, including those described under 'Certain Covenants -- Maintenance  of
Consolidated  Tangible Net  Worth' and 'Repurchase  at Option of  Holders Upon a
Change of Control.'
 
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
 
     The Indenture will  be discharged  and cancelled  upon payment  of all  the
Notes  or upon deposit with the Trustee, within  not more than one year prior to
the maturity of the Notes, of funds sufficient for such payment.
 
                                       18
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement
between Jefferies & Company, Inc. and CS First Boston Corporation (collectively,
the 'Underwriters') and the Company, such Underwriters have severally agreed  to
purchase  from the Company $       and $       aggregate principal amount of the
Notes, respectively.
 
     The  Underwriting   Agreement  provides   that  the   obligations  of   the
Underwriters thereunder are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the
Underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the Notes if they purchase any
of the Notes.
 
     The  Underwriters propose to offer the Notes  directly to the public at the
public offering price  set forth on  the cover  page of this  Prospectus and  to
certain  dealers at such  price less a  concession not in  excess of    % of the
principal amount of the Notes. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers  may
reallow,  a concession not in excess of   % of the principal amount of the Notes
to certain other dealers. After the initial public offering, the offering price,
concession and discount may be changed.
 
     The Company  has  agreed  to indemnify  the  Underwriters  against  certain
liabilities  including liabilities under the Securities  Act or to contribute to
payments the Underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.
 
     Each of  Jefferies &  Company, Inc.  and CS  First Boston  Corporation  has
previously  performed investment  banking and other  financial advisory services
for the Company for which they have received customary compensation. Jefferies &
Company, Inc. is also acting as Dealer Manager of the Tender Offer, for which it
will receive compensation in connection therewith.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     The validity of  the securities  offered hereby and  certain legal  matters
will  be passed upon by Weil, Gotshal &  Manges LLP, New York, New York, General
Counsel to  the  Company (members  of  which own  approximately  165,000  Common
Shares).  Certain  legal matters  will be  passed upon  for the  Underwriters by
Cahill Gordon &  Reindel (a partnership  including a professional  corporation),
New York, New York.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The  consolidated balance sheets as  of December 31, 1995  and 1994 and the
consolidated statements  of income,  changes in  shareholders' equity  and  cash
flows  for  each of  the  three years  in the  period  ended December  31, 1995,
incorporated by reference in this  Prospectus, have been incorporated herein  in
reliance  on the  report of Coopers  & Lybrand  L.L.P., independent accountants,
given on the authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                                       19

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     NO  DEALER,  SALESMAN  OR OTHER  PERSON  HAS  BEEN AUTHORIZED  TO  GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR  TO  MAKE  ANY  REPRESENTATION  OTHER  THAN  THOSE  CONTAINED  OR
INCORPORATED  BY REFERENCE  IN THIS PROSPECTUS  IN CONNECTION  WITH THE OFFERING
DESCRIBED HEREIN, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST
NOT BE  RELIED  UPON  AS  HAVING  BEEN AUTHORIZED  BY  THE  COMPANY  OR  BY  THE
UNDERWRITERS.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  DOES NOT  CONSTITUTE  AN  OFFER TO  SELL,  OR A
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT IS UNLAWFUL  TO
MAKE  SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR
ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER  SHALL, UNDER ANY  CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE AN  IMPLICATION
THAT  THERE HAS  BEEN NO  CHANGE IN THE  AFFAIRS OF  THE COMPANY  SINCE THE DATE
HEREOF OR  THAT THE  INFORMATION CONTAINED  HEREIN  IS CORRECT  AS OF  ANY  TIME
SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.
 
                               ------------------
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  PAGE
                                                  -----
 
<S>                                               <C>
Available Information.............................     2
 
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference...     2
 
Prospectus Summary................................     3
 
The Company.......................................     5
 
Use of Proceeds...................................     6
 
Capitalization....................................     7
 
Selected Financial Data...........................     8
 
Description of Notes..............................    10
 
Underwriting......................................    19
 
Legal Matters.....................................    19
 
Experts...........................................    19
</TABLE>
 
                                  $135,000,000
                               LEUCADIA NATIONAL
                                  CORPORATION
                          % SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
                                    DUE 2006
                                   PROSPECTUS
                           JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.
                                CS FIRST BOSTON
                                        , 1996


<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
     The  estimated expenses  payable by the  Registrant in  connection with the
securities being registered are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                  <C>
SEC Registration Fee..............................................................   $ 46,552
Rating Agency Fee.................................................................      *
Accounting Fees and Expenses......................................................      *
Printing and Photocopying.........................................................      *
Legal Fees and Expenses...........................................................      *
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses........................................................      *
Fees of Trustees..................................................................      *
Miscellaneous Expenses............................................................      *
                                                                                     --------
     Total Expenses...............................................................   $  *
                                                                                     --------
                                                                                     --------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
* To be completed by amendment.
 
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
     Sections 722 through  725 of  the New  York Business  Corporation Law  (the
'Business  Corporation  Law') provide  that  a corporation  may  indemnify, with
certain limitations and exceptions, a director  or officer as follows: (1) in  a
derivative  action, against  his reasonable expenses,  including attorneys' fees
but excluding certain settlement costs, actually and necessarily incurred by him
in connection with the defense thereof,  or an appeal therein, if such  director
or  officer acted, in good faith, for  a purpose which he reasonably believed to
be in (or in the  case of service for another  corporation, not opposed to)  the
best interests of the corporation; and (2) in a civil or criminal non-derivative
action  or  proceeding including  a  derivative action  by  another corporation,
partnership or  other  enterprise  in  which any  director  or  officer  of  the
indemnifying   corporation   served  in   any   capacity  at   the  indemnifying
corporation's  request,  against  judgments,  fines,  settlement  payments   and
reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred as a result thereof, or
any  appeal therein,  if such  director or  officer acted  in good  faith, for a
purpose which he reasonably believed  to be in (or, in  the case of service  for
any  other corporation,  not opposed to)  the best interests  of the corporation
and, in criminal actions and proceedings,  in addition, had no reasonable  cause
to  believe that his conduct  was unlawful. Such indemnification  is a matter of
right where  the  director or  officer  has been  successful  on the  merits  or
otherwise,  and otherwise may  be granted upon  corporate authorization or court
award as provided in the statute.
 
     Section 721 of the Business  Corporation Law provides that  indemnification
arrangements can be established for directors and officers, by contract, by-law,
charter  provision, action of shareholders or board of directors, on terms other
than those specifically provided by Article  7 of the Business Corporation  Law,
provided  that no indemnification may be made to or on behalf of any director or
officer if a  judgment or other  final adjudication adverse  to the director  or
officer establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result
of  active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so
adjudicated, or that he  personally gained in fact  a financial profit or  other
advantage  to which  he was  not legally  entitled. Article  V of  the Company's
By-Laws provides for the indemnification, to the full extent authorized by  law,
of  any person made  or threatened to be  made a party in  any civil or criminal
action or proceeding by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate is
or was a director or officer of the Company.
 
     Section 726 of the Business Corporation Law provides that a corporation may
obtain insurance to indemnify itself and its directors and officers. The Company
maintains an insurance  policy providing both  directors and officers  liability
coverage and corporate reimbursement coverage.
 
                                      II-1
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     Article  Sixth  of the  Company's Certificate  of Incorporation  contains a
charter provision  eliminating  or  limiting  director  liability  for  monetary
damages  arising  from  breaches  of fiduciary  duty,  subject  only  to certain
limitations imposed by statute.
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                                   DESCRIPTION
- ------   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<C>      <S>
  1      --Form of Underwriting Agreement.**
  4.1    --Form of Indenture, dated as of                 , 1996, between the Company and             , as  Trustee,
           in respect of the Company's    % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006.**
  4.2    --Form of  Senior Subordinated Note (included in the form  of Indenture to be filed as Exhibit 4.1 to  this
           Registration Statement).**
  5      --Opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.**
 12      --Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
 23.1    --Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
 23.2    --Consent of  Weil, Gotshal  & Manges  LLP (included  in the  opinion to  be filed  as Exhibit  5 to  this
           Registration Statement).**
 24      --Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this Part II).
 25      --Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of                    , as Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to
           the    % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006.**
 99      --Schedule  P  of the 1995 Annual Statement to Insurance Departments of the Colonial Penn Insurance Company
           and Affiliated Property/Casualty Insurers and the  Empire Insurance Company, Principal Insurer (filed  as
           Exhibit 28 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995).*
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
 * Incorporated by reference.
** To be filed by amendment.
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
     The   undersigned  registrant  hereby  undertakes  that,  for  purposes  of
determining any liability under the Securities  Act of 1933, each filing of  the
registrant's  annual report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section  15(d) of the
Securities Exchange  Act of  1934  (and, where  applicable,  each filing  of  an
employee  benefit  plan's  annual  report  pursuant  to  Section  15(d)  of  the
Securities Exchange  Act of  1934)  that is  incorporated  by reference  in  the
registration  statement  shall  be deemed  to  be a  new  registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such  securities
at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of  1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant  to the  provisions  in Item  15  above, or  otherwise,  the
Company  has been  advised that  in the opinion  of the  Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for  indemnification
against  such liabilities (other than the  payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the  registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled  by controlling  precedent, submit  to a  court of  appropriate
jurisdiction  the  question of  whether such  indemnification  by it  is against
public policy  as  expressed in  the  Act and  will  be governed  by  the  final
adjudication of such issue.
 
                                      II-2
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
          (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act
     of  1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part
     of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained  in
     a  form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or
     (4), or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of  this
     registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
          (2)  For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
     Act of  1933,  each  post-effective  amendment  that  contains  a  form  of
     prospectus  shall be deemed to be  a new registration statement relating to
     the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
     time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the
purpose of determining the  eligibility of the trustee  to act under  subsection
(a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (the 'Act') in accordance with the
rules  and regulations prescribed  by the Commission  under Section 305(b)(2) of
the Act.
 
                                      II-3


<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant  to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that  it has  reasonable grounds  to  believe that  it meets  all  the
requirements  for  filing on  Form  S-3 and  has  duly caused  this Registration
Statement to  be  signed  on  its behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City and  State of New York, on  this 16th day of September,
1996.
 
                                          LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORPORATION

                                          By:        /s/ JOSEPH A. ORLANDO
                                             ...................................
                                                     JOSEPH A. ORLANDO
                                             VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL
                                                         OFFICER
 
     KNOW ALL MEN BY  THESE PRESENTS, that each  person whose signature  appears
below  constitutes and appoints Thomas E. Mara, Joseph A. Orlando and Barbara L.
Lowenthal, and each of them, with full power to act without the other, his  true
and  lawful  attorney-in-fact and  agent, with  full  power of  substitution and
resubstitution, for  him and  in  his name,  place and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this Registration Statement, and to
file  the  same, with  all exhibits  thereto and  other documents  in connection
therewith, with  the  Securities and  Exchange  Commission, granting  unto  said
attorneys-in-fact  and agents, and each of them,  full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and  thing requisite and necessary to be done  in
and  about the  premises, as fully  to all intents  and purposes as  he might or
could  do   in  person,   hereby  ratifying   and  confirming   all  that   said
attorneys-in-fact  and agents, or either of them,  or their or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
     Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,   this
Registration  Statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf
of the registrant and in the capacities indicated, on the date set forth above.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                SIGNATURE                                      TITLE                              DATE
- ------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------   -------------------
 
<C>                                         <S>                                            <C>
            /S/ IAN M. CUMMING              Chairman of the Board                          September 16, 1996
 .........................................    (Principal Executive Officer)
             (IAN M. CUMMING)
 
         /S/ JOSEPH S. STEINBERG            President and Director                         September 16, 1996
 .........................................    (Principal Executive Officer)
          (JOSEPH S. STEINBERG)
 
          /S/ JOSEPH A. ORLANDO             Vice President and Chief Financial Officer     September 16, 1996
 .........................................    (Principal Financial Officer)
           (JOSEPH A. ORLANDO)
 
         /S/ BARBARA L. LOWENTHAL           Vice President and Comptroller                 September 16, 1996
 .........................................    (Principal Accounting Officer)
          (BARBARA L. LOWENTHAL)
 
            /S/ PAUL M. DOUGAN              Director                                       September 16, 1996
 .........................................
             (PAUL M. DOUGAN)
 
        /S/ LAWRENCE D. GLAUBINGER          Director                                       September 16, 1996
 .........................................
         (LAWRENCE D. GLAUBINGER)
 
           /S/ JAMES E. JORDAN              Director                                       September 16, 1996
 .........................................
            (JAMES E. JORDAN)
 
       /S/ JESSE CLYDE NICHOLS, III         Director                                       September 16,  1996
 .........................................
        (JESSE CLYDE NICHOLS, III)
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-4


<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                            EXEMPTION
EXHIBITS                                                                                                    INDICATION
- --------                                                                                                    ---------
 
<C>        <S>                                                                                              <C>
   1       --Form  of Underwriting Agreement.**..........................................................
   4.1     --Form  of Indenture,  dated as  of                          , 1996,  between the  Company and
                               , as Trustee, in respect of the  Company's    % Senior Subordinated  Notes
             due 2006.**.................................................................................
   4.2     --Form  of Senior Subordinated Notes (included in the form of Indenture to be filed as Exhibit
             4.1 to this Registration Statement).**......................................................
   5       --Opinion  of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.**...................................................
  12       --Statement  of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. ...........................
  23.1     --Consent  of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.........................................................
  23.2     --Consent  of  Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (included in the opinion to be filed as Exhibit 5 to
             this Registration Statement).**.............................................................
  24       --Power  of Attorney (included on signature page of this Part II).............................
  25       --Statement  of Eligibility and Qualification of                     , as Trustee on Form  T-1
             with respect to the    % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006.**..............................
  99       --Schedule  P  of  the  1995 Annual Statement  to Insurance  Departments of  the Colonial Penn
             Insurance Company  and  Affiliated  Property/Casualty  Insurers  and  the  Empire  Insurance
             Company,  Principal Insurer (filed as Exhibit 28 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
             for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995).*..............................................
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
 * Incorporated by reference.
** To be filed by amendment.

<PAGE>


<PAGE>
                                                                      EXHIBIT 12

           STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                   (Excluding Interest on Customer Banking Deposits)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                           Six Months
                                          Ended June 30,                   Year Ended December 31,
                                         ---------------         ------------------------------------------------
                                         1996       1995         1995     1994        1993      1992        1991
                                         ----       ----         ----     ----        ----      ----        ----
                                                                   (Dollars In Thousands)
<S>                                    <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>        <C> 

Income from continuing operations
  before extraordinary items and
  cumulative effects of changes in
  accounting principles                 $28,774    $33,732    $107,503   $ 70,836   $116,259   $130,607    $ 94,380

Add (Deduct):
  Income taxes                           11,648     13,971      24,679     29,482     60,609     12,946         200
  Fixed charges per below                24,442     22,002      47,527     42,423     37,299     34,319      26,933
  Equity in undistributed
   earnings of less than 50%
   owned companies                        5,703        705       2,613      5,176      2,064      1,891         722
                                        -------    -------    --------   --------   --------   --------   ---------
          Income as adjusted            $70,567    $70,410    $182,322   $147,917   $216,231   $179,763    $122,235
                                        =======    =======    ========   ========   ========   ========   =========
 
Fixed charges:
  Interest on indebtedness
   (excluding customer banking
   deposits)                            $20,960    $18,725     $40,837    $35,699    $30,464    $26,553     $21,787
  Amortization of debt expense
   and premium                              756        758       1,527      1,202        983        836         501
  Portion of rents representative
   of the interest factor (1/3
   of rents)                              2,726      2,519       5,163      5,522      5,852      6,930       4,645
                                        -------    -------    --------   --------   --------   --------    --------
                                        $24,442    $22,002     $47,527    $42,423    $37,299    $34,319     $26,933
                                        =======    =======    ========   ========   ========   ========    ========

Ratio of earnings to fixed
  charges                                  2.89       3.20        3.84       3.49       5.80       5.24        4.54
                                        =======    =======    ========   ========   ========   ========    ========

</TABLE>





<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                                                      EXHIBIT 12


         STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                (Including Interest on Customer Banking Deposits)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                           Six Months
                                          Ended June 30,                    Year Ended December 31,
                                         ---------------         -----------------------------------------------
                                         1996       1995         1995     1994        1993      1992        1991
                                         ----       ----         ----     ----        ----      ----        ----
                                                                   (Dollars In Thousands)

<S>                                     <C>        <C>           <C>     <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>

Income from continuing operations
 before extraordinary items and
 cumulative effects of changes in
 accounting principles                 $28,774      $33,732   $107,503   $ 70,836   $116,259   $130,607   $ 94,380

Add (Deduct):
  Income taxes                          11,648       13,971     24,679     29,482     60,609     12,946        200
  Fixed charges per below               30,764       27,682     59,561     50,727     46,300     46,273     42,071
  Equity in undistributed
   earnings of less than 50%
   owned companies                       5,703          705      2,613      5,176      2,064      1,891        722
                                       -------      -------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
          Income as adjusted           $76,889      $76,090   $194,356   $156,221   $225,232   $191,717   $137,373
                                       =======      =======   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========
 

Fixed charges:
  Interest on indebtedness             $27,282      $24,405    $52,871    $44,003    $39,465    $38,507    $36,925
  Amortization of debt expense
   and premium                             756          758      1,527      1,202        983        836        501
  Portion of rents representative
   of the interest factor (1/3
   of rents)                             2,726        2,519      5,163      5,522      5,852      6,930      4,645
                                       -------      -------    -------    -------    -------    -------    -------
                                       $30,764      $27,682    $59,561    $50,727    $46,300    $46,273    $42,071
                                       =======      =======    =======    =======    =======    =======    =======

Ratio of earnings to fixed
  charges                                 2.50         2.75       3.26       3.08       4.86       4.14       3.27
                                       =======      =======    =======    =======    =======    =======    =======

</TABLE>

                                        2


<PAGE>



<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


          We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement of LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORPORATION on Form S-3 of our report dated March
22, 1996 on our audits of the consolidated financial statements and financial
statement schedules of LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORPORATION as of December 31, 1995 and
1994, and for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, which report is
included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORPORATION. We
also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts".

                                            /s/ Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.

                                            COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.

New York, New York
September 16, 1996

<PAGE>



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