TRANSAMERICA FINANCE CORP
424B3, 1998-09-29
PERSONAL CREDIT INSTITUTIONS
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<PAGE>
 
Pricing Supplement No. 41 Dated September 25, 1998               Rule 424(b)(3)
(To Prospectus dated April 5, 1995 and Prospectus             File No. 33-58365
Supplement dated May 15, 1995)



                      TRANSAMERICA FINANCE CORPORATION

                     SENIOR MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, SERIES E
                                $100,000,000
                     RESET PUT SECURITIES ("REPS/SM/")*
                           DUE SEPTEMBER 28, 2011


================================================================================

Trade Date:                          September 25, 1998

Original Issue Date:                 September 30, 1998

Principal Amount:                    U.S.$100,000,000

Price to Public:                     Variable: relating to prevailing prices
                                     at the time of the sale, as determined by
                                     the Agent at the time of each sale

Proceeds to Company:                 101.12%, which amount includes the
                                     consideration for the Call Option to be
                                     paid for by the Callholder

Interest Rate:                       During the period prior to the Coupon
                                     Reset Date, determined as described under
                                     "Additional Terms - Floating Rate Period"

                                     During the period from and after the
                                     Coupon Reset Date, determined as
                                     described under "Additional Terms -Coupon
                                     Reset Process After the Floating Rate
                                     Period"

Interest Payment Dates:              During the period prior to the Coupon
                                     Reset date, March 28, June 28, September
                                     28 and December 28 of each year (each, an
                                     "Interest Payment Date"), commencing
                                     December 28, 1998

                                     During the period from and after the
                                     Coupon Reset Date, the Interest Payment
                                     Dates will be changed to March 28 and
                                     September 28 of each year, commencing
                                     March 28, 2002

Coupon Reset Date:                   September 28, 2001

Final Maturity Date:                 September 28, 2011, subject to the Call
                                     Option and Put Option referred to below

Call Option:                         The Notes may be purchased by the
                                     Callholder prior to Maturity, as
                                     described under "Additional Terms - Call
                                     Option; Put Option"

- -----------------
*   REPS is a service mark of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.

Repurchase/Put Option:              The Notes are subject to repurchase by the
                                    Company prior to Maturity, pursuant to the
                                    Put Option as described under "Additional
                                    Terms - Call Option; Put Option"

Option Calculation Agent:           Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

Calculation Rate Agent:             Bank of Montreal

Callholder:                         Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited

Specified Currency:                 U.S. dollars

================================================================================

Form:  Book-Entry

CUSIP No.: 89350LHL9

Original Issue Discount Note:  No

================================================================================

Agent: Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

Agent acting in the capacity of:  Principal


     CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE NOTES,
SPECIFICALLY, THE AGENT MAY OVER-ALLOT IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING, AND MAY
BID FOR, AND PURCHASE, THE NOTES IN THE OPEN MARKET.  FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE
ACTIVITIES, SEE "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION".

Other Provisions:  See the Attachment

================================================================================

                         MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
<PAGE>
 
                              ADDITIONAL TERMS

          These Additional Terms constitute a part of Pricing Supplement No. 41
dated September 25, 1998 of Transamerica Finance Corporation (the "Company") and
contain a description of additional terms and provisions applicable to the
Company's RESET Put Securities due September 28, 2011 (the "Notes") constituting
a tranche of the Company's Senior Medium-Term Notes, Series E.  The Notes are
described in the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement for the Senior Medium-
Term Notes, Series E, referred to above, and reference is made thereto for a
detailed summary of additional provisions of the Notes.  The Notes are Floating
Rate Notes as described in the Prospectus Supplement, subject to and as modified
by the Coupon Reset Process and other provisions described below.  The
description of the particular terms of the Notes set forth in this Pricing
Supplement supplements, and to the extent inconsistent therewith replaces, the
description of the terms and provisions of the "Debt Securities" in the
Prospectus and the "Notes" in the Prospectus Supplement.  Capitalized terms used
but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in such Prospectus and
Prospectus Supplement.

INTEREST RATE AND INTEREST PAYMENT DATES

          The principal amount of Notes will be limited to $100,000,000 and the
Notes will mature on September 28, 2011 (the "Final Maturity Date").  On the
Coupon Reset Date, the holders of the Notes will receive 100% of the principal
amount thereof through either (i) the exercise by the Callholder of the Call
Option or (ii) in the event the Callholder does not exercise the Call Option or
fails for any reason to purchase the Notes, the exercise by the Senior Trustee
for and on behalf of the holders of the Notes of the Put Option.  The Senior
Trustee will exercise the Put Option without the consent of, or notice to, the
holders of the Notes.  Interest accrued to, but excluding, the Coupon Reset Date
will be paid by the Company on such date to the holders of the Notes on the most
recent Record Date (as defined below).

          The Notes will bear interest at the daily weighted average of the
Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% from the date of issuance to, but excluding, the
Coupon Reset Date (the "Floating Rate Period").  If the Callholder elects to
purchase the Notes pursuant to the Call Option, the Option Calculation Agent
will reset the interest rate effective on the Coupon Reset Date, pursuant to the
Coupon Reset Process described below.  In such circumstance, (i) the Notes will
be purchased by the Callholder, in whole but not in part, at 100% of the
principal amount thereof on the Coupon Reset Date, on the terms and subject to
the conditions described herein, and (ii) on and after the Coupon Reset Date,
the Notes will bear interest at the fixed rate of interest determined by the
Option Calculation Agent in accordance with the procedures set forth under
"Coupon Reset Process" below (the "Coupon Reset Process").

          Interest will be payable on the Notes on each Interest Payment Date,
commencing December 28, 1998, to the persons in whose name the Notes are
registered on the fifteenth calendar day (whether or not a Business Day)
immediately preceding the related Interest Payment Date (each, a "Record Date").

          If the Callholder for any reason does not purchase the Notes on the
Coupon Reset Date, the Senior Trustee will be required pursuant to the terms of
the Notes to exercise the Put Option without the consent of, or notice to, the
holders of the Notes and, upon such exercise, the Company will be required to
repurchase the Notes from the holders thereof on the Coupon Reset Date at 100%
of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest.  See "Call
Option; Put Option" below.

          The Notes will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples thereof.

          FOR PERSONS HOLDING THE NOTES (OR AN INTEREST THEREIN) ON THE COUPON
RESET DATE, THE EFFECT OF THE OPERATION OF THE CALL OPTION AND PUT OPTION WILL
BE THAT SUCH PERSONS WILL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE, AND WILL BE REQUIRED TO
ACCEPT, 100% OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SUCH NOTES ON THE COUPON RESET DATE IN
SATISFACTION OF THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATIONS TO SUCH HOLDERS.  INTEREST ACCRUED TO,
BUT EXCLUDING, THE COUPON RESET DATE WILL BE PAID BY THE COMPANY ON SUCH DATE TO
THE HOLDERS OF THE NOTES ON THE MOST RECENT RECORD DATE.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
Floating Rate Period

          During the Floating Rate Period, interest on the Notes will be payable
on each Interest Payment Date, commencing December 28, 1998, except that if any
Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest
Payment Date will be the next day that is a Business Day.

          During the Floating Rate Period, the rate of interest for each
Interest Period shall be (i) the sum of the Federal Funds Rates for each day in
the Interest Period divided by the number of days in such Interest Period plus
(ii) 0.50%.  The Federal Funds Rate shall be reset on each Business Day during
an Interest Period through and including the second Business day preceding the
Interest Payment Date for such Interest Period (each, an "Interest Reset Date").
The Federal Funds Rate for each Interest Reset Date shall be determined on the
second Business Day preceding such Interest Reset Date (each, an "Interest
Determination Date").  The Federal Funds Rate determined with respect to an
Interest Reset Date shall continue to be the applicable rate of interest for
each day following such Interest Reset Date to, but excluding, the next
succeeding Interest Reset Date.  Bank of Montreal will be the initial
Calculation Rate Agent with respect to the determination of the Federal Funds
Rate on each Interest Reset Date and the rate of interest for each Interest
Period.

          Interest payments for the Notes shall be the amount of interest
accrued from the date of issue or from the last date to which interest has been
paid to, but excluding, the Interest Payment Date or Maturity, as the case may
be.  Interest is computed by dividing the actual number of days in the Interest
Period by 360.

          "Interest Period" means (i) the period from and including September
30, 1998, to, but excluding, the first Interest Payment Date, and (ii) each
successive period from and including an Interest Payment Date to, but excluding,
the next Interest Payment Date or at Maturity, as the case may be.

CALL OPTION; PUT OPTION

          Call Option.  Pursuant to the Call Option granted to the Company under
          -----------                                                           
the terms of the Notes and assigned to Morgan Stanley & Co. International
Limited (the "Callholder"), the Callholder or its assignee has the right to
purchase the Notes in whole but not in part on the Coupon Reset Date (the "Call
Option"), at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (the "Call
Price"), by giving the Call Notice to the Senior Trustee.  The Callholder must
deliver irrevocable, written notice (the "Call Notice") to the Senior Trustee of
its exercise of the Call Option prior to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, no later
than fifteen calendar days prior to the Coupon Reset Date.  In the event the
Callholder exercises its rights under the Call Option, (i) not later than 2:00
p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day prior to the Coupon Reset Date,
the Callholder shall deliver the Call Price in immediately available funds to
the Senior Trustee for payment of the Call Price on the Coupon Reset Date
(provided, however, that if the Company is the assignee of the Call Option, the
- ---------  -------                                                             
Company shall so deliver the Call Price in immediately available funds to the
Senior Trustee for such payment on or prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time,
on the Coupon Reset Date) and; (ii) the holders of the Notes shall be required
to deliver and will be deemed to have delivered, the Notes to the Callholder
against payment therefore on the Coupon Reset Date through the facilities of the
Depositary.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
          If (i) the Callholder shall fail to purchase the Notes by 2:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on the Business Day prior to the Coupon Reset Date, (ii) the
Company in its sole discretion determines that, since the date of the Call
Notice, a Market Disruption Event (as defined below) shall have occurred; (iii)
the Option Calculation Agent determines that since the date of the Call Notice,
(A) an Event of Default or any event which, with the giving of notice or passage
of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default with respect to the Notes
shall have occurred and be continuing, or (B) Bids have not been received from
at least three Dealers in a timely manner substantially as provided under the
"Coupon Reset Process After the Floating Rate Period", or (iv) the Company shall
not have received from counsel to the Company (which counsel may be an employee
of the Company) on or prior to 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business
Day immediately preceding the Coupon Reset Date an opinion of counsel to the
effect that, after giving effect to the Coupon Reset Process (including the
establishment of the Coupon Reset Rate as the new interest rate of the Notes),
the Notes will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, the Call
Option will automatically terminate, no amount shall be payable as a result of
such termination and the Senior Trustee will exercise the Put Option on behalf
of the holders of the Notes.  "Market Disruption Event" shall mean any of the
following:  (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities
generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the establishment of minimum prices
on such exchange; (ii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities
declared by either federal or New York State authorities; (iii) any material
adverse change in the existing financial, political or economic conditions in
the United States of America; (iv) an outbreak or escalation of major
hostilities involving the United States of America or the declaration of a
national emergency or war by the United States of America; or (v) any material
disruption of the U.S. government securities market, U.S. corporate bond market,
or U.S. federal wire system.

          No holder of Notes shall have any rights or claims against the
Callholder as a result of the Callholder purchasing or not purchasing the Notes,
exercising or not exercising the Call Option or performing or not performing its
obligations with respect thereto.

          If the Callholder gives the Call Notice, then, not later than the
fourth Business Day following the notification date, the Company may irrevocably
elect, by written notice to the Callholder and the Senior Trustee, to terminate
the Coupon Reset Process, whereupon the Company will repurchase the entire
principal amount of the Notes on the Coupon Reset Date at the Call Price plus
accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes.

          Immediately following the original issuance of the Notes, the
Callholder will be Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited.  Thereafter, the
Callholder from time to time may assign all (but not less than all) its rights
under the Call Option to a substitute Callholder, in each case without notice to
or consent of the holders of the Notes.

          Put Option.  If the Call Option has not been exercised, or in the
          ----------                                                       
event the Callholder is not required or fails to deliver the Call Price to the
Senior Trustee not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business Day
prior to the Coupon Reset Date, the Senior Trustee shall exercise for and on
behalf of the holders of the Notes the option to put the Notes to the Company on
the terms set forth herein (the "Put Option").  Upon exercise of the Put Option,
the Company shall purchase all of the Notes on the Coupon Reset Date, at a
purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (the "Put
Redemption Price").  The Put Option will be exercised automatically by the
Senior Trustee, on behalf of the holders of the Notes, if the Call Option has
not been exercised or if the Callholder fails for any reason to purchase the
Notes.  If the Senior Trustee exercises the Put Option, the Company will deliver
the Put Redemption Price to the Senior Trustee, together with the accrued and
unpaid interest due on the Coupon Reset  Date, by no later than 12:00 noon, New
York City time, on the Coupon Reset Date and the holders of the Notes will be
required to deliver, and will be deemed to have delivered, the Notes to the
Company against payment therefor on the Coupon Reset Date through the facilities
of the Depositary.  No holder of any Notes or any interest therein has the right
to notice of, or to consent or object to, the Senior Trustee's exercise of the
Put Option.

          The transactions described above will be executed on the Coupon Reset
Date through the Depositary in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary,
and the accounts of participants will be debited and credited and the Notes
delivered by book-entry as necessary to effect the purchases and sales thereof.
For further information with respect to transfers and settlement through the
Depositary, see "Description of Notes -- Book-Entry System" in the Prospectus
Supplement.  In addition, the Notes will trade in the Depositary's Same-Day
Settlement system.  Accordingly, the Depositary will require that secondary
trading activity in the Notes settle in 

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
immediately available funds. No assurance can be given as to the effect, if
any, of settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in the
Notes.

COUPON RESET PROCESS AFTER THE FLOATING RATE PERIOD

          If the Callholder under the Call Option has exercised the Call Option
in accordance with the procedures set forth under "Call Option; Put Option"
above, the Company and the Option Calculation Agent shall complete the following
steps (the "Coupon Reset Process") in order to determine the interest rate to be
paid on the Notes from and including the Coupon Reset Date to, but excluding,
the date of Maturity.

          (1)  The Company shall provide the Option Calculation Agent with a
list (the "Dealer List"), no later than seven Business Days prior to the
Coupon Reset Date, containing the names and addresses of five dealers, one of
which shall be Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, from which it desires the
Option Calculation Agent to obtain the Bids (as defined below) for the
purchase of the Notes.

          (2)  Within one Business Day following receipt by the Option
Calculation Agent of the Dealer List, the Option Calculation Agent shall
provide to each dealer ("Dealer") on the Dealer List (a) A copy of the Pricing
Supplement, dated September 25, 1998, and the Prospectus Supplement including
the Prospectus attached thereto, relating to the offering of the Notes; (b) a
copy of the form of Notes; and (c) a written request that each Dealer submit a
Bid to the Option Calculation Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time (the
"Bid Deadline"), on the third Business Day prior to the Coupon Reset Date (the
"Bid Date"). "Bid" shall mean an irrevocable written offer given by a Dealer
for the purchase of all the Notes, settling on the Coupon Reset Date, and
shall be quoted by such Dealer as a stated yield to maturity on the Notes
("Yield to Maturity"). Each Dealer shall be provided with (a) the name of the
Company, (b) an estimate of the Purchase Price (which shall be stated as a
U.S. Dollar amount and be calculated by the Option Calculation Agent in
accordance with clause (3) below), (c) the principal amount and the Final
Maturity Date of the Notes and (d) the method by which interest will be
calculated on the Notes.

          (3)  The purchase price to be paid by any Dealer for the Notes (the
"Purchase Price") shall be equal to (a) the principal amount of the Notes plus
(b) a premium (the "Notes Premium") which shall be equal to the excess, if
any, of (i) the discounted present value to the Coupon Reset Date of a bond
with a maturity of the Final Maturity Date which has an interest rate of
4.575%, semi-annual interest payments on each March 28 and September 28,
commencing March 28, 2002, and a principal amount of $100,000,000, and
assuming a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate (as defined below), over
(ii) $100,000,000. "Treasury Rate" means the per annum rate equal to the offer
side yield to maturity of the current on-the-run ten-year United States
Treasury Security (the "Ten Year Yield") per Telerate Page 500 (or such other
page as may replace Telerate Page 500 on that service for the purpose of
displaying the Ten Year Yield) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Bid
Date (or such other date or time that may be agreed upon by the Company and
the Option Calculation Agent) or, if such rate does not appear on Telerate
Page 500 (or such other page as may replace Telerate Page 500 on that service
for the purpose of displaying the Ten Year Yield) at such time, the rates on
GovPx End-of-Day Pricing at 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Bid Date.

          (4)  Following receipt of the Bids, the Option Calculation Agent
shall provide written notice to the Company, setting forth (a) the names of
each of the Dealers from whom the Option Calculation Agent received Bids on
the Bid Date, (b) the Bid submitted by each such Dealer and (c) the Purchase
Price as determined pursuant to paragraph (3) above. Except as provided below,
the Option Calculation Agent shall thereafter select from the Bids received
the Bid with the lowest Yield to Maturity (the "Selected Bid") and calculate a
rate of interest per annum (the "Coupon Reset Rate") that would amortize the
Notes Premium fully over the remaining term of the Notes at the Yield to
Maturity indicated by the Selected Bid; provided, however, that if the Option
                                        --------  -------
Calculation Agent has not received a Bid from a Dealer by the Bid Deadline,
the Selected Bid shall be the lowest of all Bids received by such time and
provided, further, that if any two or more of the lowest Bids submitted are
- --------  -------
equivalent, the Company shall in its sole discretion select any of such
equivalent Bids (and the Bid so selected shall be the Selected Bid).

          (5)  Immediately after calculating the Coupon Reset Rate, the Option
Calculation Agent shall provide written notice to the Company and the Senior
Trustee setting forth the Coupon Reset Rate. The Company

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
shall establish the Coupon Reset Rate as the interest rate on the Notes,
effective from and including the Coupon Reset Date, to, but excluding, the
Final Maturity Date, by delivery to the Senior Trustee on or before the Coupon
Reset Date of an Officers' Certificate as defined in, and in accordance with,
the Senior Indenture. Effective from and including the Coupon Reset Date, the
Interest Payment Dates on the Notes shall be March 28 and September 28 of each
year or at Maturity, as the case may be, commencing March 28, 2002, and
interest will be calculated based on a 360 day year consisting of twelve 30
day months.

          (6)  The Callholder shall sell the Notes to the Dealer that made the
Selected Bid at the Purchase Price, such sale to be settled on the Coupon
Reset Date in immediately available funds.
 
          The Company and the Option Calculation Agent have entered into a
Calculation Agency Agreement, dated September 30, 1998.  The Calculation Agency
Agreement provides that the Option Calculation Agent for the Notes may resign at
any time as Option Calculation Agent, such resignation to be effective ten
Business Days after the delivery to the Company and the Trustee of notice of
such resignation.  In such case, the Company may appoint a successor Option
Calculation Agent for the Notes.

          The Option Calculation Agent, in its individual capacity, may buy,
sell, hold and deal in the Notes and may exercise any vote or join in any action
which any holder of the Notes may be entitled to exercise or take as if it were
not the Option Calculation Agent.  The Option Calculation Agent, in its
individual capacity, may also engage in any transaction with the Company as if
it were not the Option Calculation Agent.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
            CERTAIN ADDITIONAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

          Prospective investors should refer to the Prospectus Supplement --
"Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences" as well as the
information set forth below.

          PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF THE NOTES SHOULD
CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS CONCERNING THE APPLICATION OF UNITED STATES
FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY
CONSEQUENCE OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE NOTES ARISING
UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION.

          Prospective investors should note that no rulings have been or are
expected to be sought from the IRS with respect to any of the United States
federal income tax consequences discussed below, and no assurance can be given
that the IRS will not take contrary positions.

UNITED STATES HOLDERS OF NOTES

          Although there is no authority on point characterizing instruments
such as the Notes, the Notes should be treated as variable rate debt instruments
that mature on the Coupon Reset Date, and the Company and each holder, by its
purchase of a Note, will agree to treat the Notes as such.  Under this
characterization, each United States Holder should include in income the
interest paid or accrued on the Notes in accordance with the United States
Holder's usual method of accounting.  Upon the sale, exchange, redemption or
other disposition by a holder of the Notes, the United States Holder should
recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount
realized from the disposition of the Notes (exclusive of amounts attributable to
accrued interest, which will be taxable as such) and the United States Holder's
adjusted tax basis in the Notes at that time.  A United States Holder's adjusted
tax basis in the Notes generally will equal the holder's purchase price for such
Notes.  Under recently enacted legislation, in the case of a United States
Holder who is an individual and certain other non-corporate taxpayers, any
capital gain recognized on the disposition of the Notes generally will be
subject to United States federal income tax at a stated maximum rate of 20% if
the United States Holder's holding period in the Notes was more than one year at
the time of such sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition.  The ability
to use capital losses to offset ordinary income in determining taxable income is
generally limited.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, the IRS or a court may conclude that
the Notes should be treated as maturing on the Final Maturity Date rather than
the Coupon Reset Date and that the issue price of the Notes should include the
value of the Call Option.  In the event the Notes were treated as maturing on
the Final Maturity Date for United States federal income tax purposes, because
of the Coupon Reset Process, the Notes would be treated as having contingent
interest under the Code.  In that event, under final Treasury regulations
promulgated June 14, 1996, governing debt instruments that provide for
contingent payments (the "Contingent Payment Regulations"), the Company would be
required to calculate an estimated yield at which the Company would issue a debt
instrument with terms and conditions similar to the Notes (other than terms and
conditions relating to the Coupon Reset Process), taking into account available
hedges of the Notes.  A United States Holder would be required to include in
income original issue discount in an amount equal to the product of the adjusted
issue price of a Note at the beginning of each interest accrual period and the
estimated yield of the Note.  In general, for these purposes, a Note's adjusted
issue price would equal the Note's issue price increased by the interest
previously accrued on the Note, and reduced by all payments made on the Note.
As a result of the application of the Contingent Payment Regulations, it is
likely that a United States Holder would be required to include interest in
income in excess of actual cash payments received for certain taxable years.

          In addition, if the Notes were treated as contingent payment debt
obligations, the character of any gain or loss from the sale or exchange of the
Notes (including a sale pursuant to the mandatory tender on the Coupon Reset
Date) by a United States Holder would differ from that discussed above.  Any
such taxable gain generally would be treated as ordinary income.  Any such
taxable loss generally would be ordinary to the extent of previously accrued
original issue discount, and any excess would generally be treated as capital
loss.  Upon a sale of a Note (other than through exercise of the Call Option),
the IRS could take the position that the gain or loss with respect to the Call
Option and the gain or loss with respect to the Note must be separately
determined, in which case any deemed loss with respect to the Call Option would
be treated as a capital loss, and a corresponding amount of 

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
additional ordinary income would need to be recognized by the United States
Holder with respect to the sale of the Note. In addition, if the Notes were
considered to mature on the Final Maturity Date, it is possible that United
States Holders of Notes also may be considered to have entered into a
"straddle" for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the
Call Option, in which case a United States Holder's capital loss described in
the preceding two sentences would be short-term capital loss and the United
States Holder would be required to capitalize interest expense on certain
indebtedness incurred to purchase or carry the Notes.

NON-UNITED STATES HOLDERS OF NOTES

          A trust will be a "non-United States Holder" if it is not subject to
the primary supervision of a court within the United States and the control of
one or more United States persons with respect to substantial decisions.

FINAL WITHHOLDING REGULATIONS

          The Treasury Department recently issued final Treasury regulations
(the "Final Regulations") which make certain modifications to the withholding,
backup withholding and information reporting rules described in the Prospectus
Supplement.  The Final Regulations attempt to unify certification requirements
and modify reliance standards.  The Final Regulations will generally be
effective for payments made after December 31, 1999, subject to certain
transition rules.  Prospective investors are urged to consult their own tax
advisors regarding the Final Regulations.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
                            PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

          The Agent proposes to offer the Notes to the public from time to time
for sale in negotiated transactions or otherwise at prices relating to
prevailing market prices at the time of the sale.  The Agent may effect such
transactions by selling Notes to or through certain dealers and such dealers may
receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts, concessions or
commissions from the Agent and any purchasers of Notes for whom it acts as
agent.  The Agent and any dealers that participate with the Agent in the
distribution of Notes may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or
commissions received by them and any profit on the resale of the Notes by them
may be deemed to be underwriting compensation.

          The Notes will not have an established trading market.  The Company
has been advised by the Agent that it intends to make a market in the Notes, but
it is not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time
without notice.

          The Company will indemnify the Agent against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make in respect
thereof.

          In order to facilitate the offering of the Notes, the Agent may engage
in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the prices of the
Notes.  Specifically, the Agent may over-allot in connection with the offering,
creating a short position in the Notes for its own account.  In addition, to
cover over-allotments or to stabilize the price of the Notes, the Agent may bid
for, and purchase, the Notes in the open market.  Finally, the Agent may reclaim
selling concessions allowed to a dealer for distributing the Notes in the
offering if the Agent repurchases previously distributed Notes in transactions
to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise.  Any of
these activities may stabilize or maintain the market prices of the Notes above
independent market levels.  The Agent is not required to engage in these
activities and may end any of these activities at any time.

          In the ordinary course of business, the Agent and its affiliates have
engaged and may in the future engage in commercial and investment banking
transactions with the Company and certain of its affiliates.

                                       9


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