As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 28, 1996
                                                     Registration No. 333-2945
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
   
                               AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
    
                                    FORM S-4
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            -------------------------

                              SOLECTRON CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


   CALIFORNIA                    3670                      94-2447045
- --------------------   ----------------------------   ---------------------
(State or other        (Primary Standard Industrial     (I.R.S.employer
jurisdiction of         Classification Code Number)    Identification No.)
incorporation or
organization)

                               777 GIBRALTAR DRIVE
                           MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA 95035
                                 (408) 957-8500
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
registrant's principal executive offices)

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

                                  SUSAN S. WANG
                            SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND
                             CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                              SOLECTRON CORPORATION
                               777 GIBRALTAR DRIVE
                           MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA 95035
                                 (408) 957-8500
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)
                            -------------------------
                                   COPIES TO:

                             STEVEN E. BOCHNER, ESQ.
                    WILSON, SONSINI, GOODRICH & ROSATI, P.C.
                               650 PAGE MILL ROAD
                        PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304-1050
                            -------------------------

        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
   As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
General Instruction G, check the following box. / /

   
                            -------------------------
    
     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 COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                              SOLECTRON CORPORATION
                              CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
            Pursuant to Rule 404(a) and Item 501(b) of Regulation S-K




               FORM S-4 ITEM NUMBER AND CAPTION                                              LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS
               --------------------------------                                              ----------------------
                                                                              
1.   Forepart of the Registration Statement and Outside Front
      Cover Page of Prospectus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Facing Page of the RegistrationStatement; Outside
                                                                                 Front Cover Page of Prospectus

2.   Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Pages of Prospectus . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover Page of Prospectus; Available
                                                                                 Information; Incorporation of Certain Documents by
                                                                                 Reference; Outside Back Cover Page of Prospectus

3.   Risk Factors, Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Other Information. . . Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference;
                                                                                 Prospectus Summary; Risk Factors; The Company;
                                                                                 Selected Consolidated Financial Data; The Exchange
                                                                                 Offer

4.   Terms of the Transaction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prospectus Summary; The Exchange Offer;
                                                                                 Description of the New Notes; Description of the
                                                                                 Old Notes; Certain Federal Income Tax
                                                                                 Considerations; Plan of Distribution

5.   Pro Forma Financial Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *

6.   Material Contacts with the Company Being Acquired . . . . . . . . . . . . . *

7.   Additional Information Required for Reoffering by Persons and Parties
     Deemed to Be Underwriters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *

8.   Interests of Named Experts and Counsel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Legal Matters; Experts

9.   Disclosure of Commission Position on Indemnification for Securities Act
     Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
*
10.  Information with Respect to S-3 Registrants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Available Information; Incorporation of Certain
                                                                                 Documents by Reference

11.  Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

12.  Information with Respect to S-2 or S-3 Registrants. . . . . . . . . . . . . *

13.  Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . *

14.  Information with Respect to Registrants Other Than
     S-3 or S-2 Registrants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *

15.  Information with Respect to S-3 Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *

16.  Information with Respect to S-2 or S-3 Companies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . *

17.  Information with Respect to Companies Other Than
     S-3 or S-2 Companies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *

18.  Information if Proxies, Consents or Authorizations are to be Solicited. . . *

19.  Information if Proxies, Consents or Authorization are not to be Solicited
      or in an Exchange Offer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Exchange Offer

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

     * INAPPLICABLE



 
PROSPECTUS
   
                                     [LOGO]
    
 
                             OFFER TO EXCHANGE ITS
                     7 3/8% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006, SERIES B
          WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                       FOR ANY AND ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING
                     7 3/8% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006, SERIES A
 
   
       THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M.,
             NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON JUNE 28, 1996, UNLESS EXTENDED.
    
                            ------------------------
 
    Solectron   Corporation,  a  California   corporation  ("Solectron"  or  the
"Company"), hereby offers,  upon the  terms and  subject to  the conditions  set
forth  in this Prospectus  as may be  amended or supplemented  from time to time
(the "Prospectus") and the  accompanying Letter of  Transmittal (the "Letter  of
Transmittal"  and  together  with  this Prospectus,  the  "Exchange  Offer"), to
exchange $1,000 principal amount of its 7  3/8% Senior Notes due 2006, Series  B
(the  "New Notes") which have been registered  under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the  "Securities Act"),  pursuant to a  registration statement  (the
"Registration  Statement") of which  this Prospectus is a  part, for each $1,000
principal amount of its outstanding 7 3/8% Senior Notes due 2006, Series A  (the
"Old Notes"), of which $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount is outstanding as
of the date hereof.
 
    The  terms of the  New Notes are  identical in all  material respects to the
terms of the Old Notes, except that (i) the New Notes have been registered under
the Securities Act and therefore will not be subject to certain restrictions  on
transfer  applicable to the Old  Notes and will not  be entitled to registration
rights or  other rights  under  the Registration  Rights Agreement  (as  defined
below)  and (ii) the New Notes will not provide for any increase in the interest
rate thereon pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. In that regard,  the
Old  Notes provide that, if the Exchange  Offer is not consummated by August 27,
1996, the interest rate borne by the Old Notes will increase by 0.50% per  annum
following  August  27,  1996  until  the  Exchange  Offer  is  consummated.  See
"Description of the Old Notes." The New Notes are being offered for exchange  in
order  to  satisfy certain  obligations of  the  Company under  the Registration
Rights Agreement,  dated  as of  February  26, 1996  (the  "Registration  Rights
Agreement"),  between the Company and the Initial Purchasers (as defined herein)
of the Old  Notes. The New  Notes will be  issued under the  same Indenture  (as
defined  herein)  as the  Old Notes.  In the  event that  the Exchange  Offer is
consummated, any Old Notes  which remain outstanding  after consummation of  the
Exchange Offer and the New Notes issued in the Exchange Offer will vote together
as  a single class for purposes of  determining whether holders of the requisite
percentage in outstanding  principal amount  of Notes (as  defined herein)  have
taken  certain actions or exercised certain  rights under the Indenture. The New
Notes and the Old Notes are collectively referred to herein as the "Notes."  See
"Description of the New Notes" and "Description of the Old Notes."
                                                     CONTINUED ON FOLLOWING PAGE
 
   
    THIS  PROSPECTUS AND THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ARE FIRST BEING MAILED TO ALL
HOLDERS OF OLD NOTES ON MAY 29, 1996.
    
           SEE "RISK FACTORS" ON PAGE 14 FOR INFORMATION THAT SHOULD
             BE CONSIDERED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS EXCHANGE OFFER.
                             ---------------------
 
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.
                            ------------------------
 
   
                  The date of this Prospectus is May 29, 1996.
    

    Interest on the New Notes is payable semiannually on March 1 and September 1
of each year (each,  an "Interest Payment Date"),  commencing on the first  such
date  following the original issuance date of  the New Notes. The New Notes will
mature on March 1, 2006. The New Notes are not entitled to any sinking fund  and
are  not redeemable prior to maturity.  The New Notes will constitute unsecured,
unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and will rank PARI PASSU in right  of
payment  with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company
for borrowed money. Because the Company is a holding company, the New Notes will
be effectively  subordinated in  right of  payment to  all existing  and  future
indebtedness, trade payables, guarantees, lease obligations and letter of credit
obligations of the Company's subsidiaries. See "Capitalization" and "Description
of the New Notes -- Ranking; Holding Company Structure."
 
   
    The  Company is making the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the
staff of the  Division of  Corporation Finance  of the  Securities and  Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") as set forth in the staff's Exxon Capital Holdings
Corp.  SEC  No-Action  Letter (available  April  13, 1989)  (the  "Exxon Capital
Letter"), Morgan Stanley  & Co., Inc.  SEC No-Action Letter  (available June  5,
1991)  (the  "Morgan  Stanley  Letter"), Shearman  &  Sterling  No-Action Letter
(available  July  7,  1993)  (the  "Shearman  &  Sterling  Letter"),  and  other
interpretive  letters addressed to third parties in other transactions. However,
the Company has  not sought  its own  interpretive letter  and there  can be  no
assurance  that  the  staff  of  the  Division  of  Corporation  Finance  of the
Commission would make a similar determination with respect to the Exchange Offer
as it  has  in  such interpretive  letters  to  third parties.  Based  on  these
interpretations by the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance, and subject
to  the two immediately following sentences, the Company believes that New Notes
issued pursuant to this Exchange Offer in exchange for Old Notes may be  offered
for  resale, resold and otherwise transferred by  a holder thereof (other than a
holder who is a broker-dealer) without further compliance with the  registration
and  prospectus delivery requirements of the  Securities Act, provided that such
New Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holder's business and that
such holder is not participating, and  has no arrangement or understanding  with
any  person  to  participate,  in  a distribution  (within  the  meaning  of the
Securities Act) of such New  Notes. However, any holder of  Old Notes who is  an
"affiliate"  of the Company or who intends  to participate in the Exchange Offer
for the purpose of  distributing New Notes, or  any broker-dealer who  purchased
Old  Notes from the Company to resell pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities
Act ("Rule 144A") or any other available exemption under the Securities Act, (a)
will not be able to rely on the interpretations of the staff of the Division  of
Corporation   Finance  of  the  Commission  set  forth  in  the  above-mentioned
interpretive letters, (b) will not be  permitted or entitled to tender such  Old
Notes  in  the Exchange  Offer and  (c)  must comply  with the  registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of  the Securities Act  in connection with  any
sale or other transfer of such Old Notes unless such sale is made pursuant to an
exemption  from  such  requirements. In  addition,  as described  below,  if any
broker-dealer holds  Old Notes  acquired for  its  own account  as a  result  of
market-making  or other trading activities and  exchanges such Old Notes for New
Notes,  then  such   broker-dealer  must  deliver   a  prospectus  meeting   the
requirements  of the Securities Act  in connection with any  resales of such New
Notes.
    
 
    Each holder of Old Notes who wishes  to exchange Old Notes for New Notes  in
the  Exchange  Offer  will  be required  to  represent  that (i)  it  is  not an
"affiliate" of the Company, (ii)  any New Notes to be  received by it are  being
acquired  in the ordinary course of its business, (iii) it has no arrangement or
understanding with  any person  to  participate in  a distribution  (within  the
meaning of the Securities Act) of such New Notes, and (iv) if such holder is not
a  broker-dealer, such holder is  not engaged in, and  does not intend to engage
in, a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of such New Notes.
Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes  for its own account pursuant to  the
Exchange  Offer must  acknowledge that  it acquired  the Old  Notes for  its own
account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities  and
must  agree that it  will deliver a  prospectus meeting the  requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with  any resale of such  New Notes. The Letter  of
Transmittal  states that by  so acknowledging and by  delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. Based on the
 
                                       2

position taken  by the  staff of  the  Division of  Corporation Finance  of  the
Commission  in the interpretive letters referred  to above, the Company believes
that broker-dealers who acquired Old Notes  for their own accounts, as a  result
of   market-making  activities  or   other  trading  activities  ("Participating
Broker-Dealers") may fulfill their prospectus delivery requirements with respect
to the New Notes received upon exchange of such Old Notes (other than Old  Notes
which  represent an unsold  allotment from the  original sale of  the Old Notes)
with a prospectus meeting the requirements  of the Securities Act, which may  be
the  prospectus  prepared  for  an  exchange offer  so  long  as  it  contains a
description of the plan of distribution with  respect to the resale of such  New
Notes.  Accordingly, this Prospectus, as it  may be amended or supplemented from
time to time,  may be used  by a Participating  Broker-Dealer during the  period
referred  to below in connection with resales  of New Notes received in exchange
for Old  Notes  where  such  Old  Notes  were  acquired  by  such  Participating
Broker-Dealer  for its own account as a result of market-making or other trading
activities. Subject to certain provisions  set forth in the Registration  Rights
Agreement,  the Company has agreed that this Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Participating Broker-Dealer  in
connection  with resales of such New Notes for a period ending 90 days after the
Expiration Date referred to  below (subject to  extension under certain  limited
circumstances described below) or, if earlier, when all such New Notes have been
disposed of by such Participating Broker-Dealer. See "Plan of Distribution." Any
Participating Broker-Dealer who is an "affiliate" of the Company may not rely on
such  interpretive letters and must comply  with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements  of  the Securities  Act  in connection  with  any  resale
transaction. See "The Exchange Offer -- Resales of New Notes."
 
    In  that regard, each  Participating Broker-Dealer who  surrenders Old Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer  will be deemed to  have agreed, by execution  of
the  Letter of Transmittal, that, upon receipt of notice from the Company of the
occurrence of any event or the discovery  of any fact which makes any  statement
contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus untrue in any material
respect  or  which causes  this  Prospectus to  omit  to state  a  material fact
necessary in order to make the statements contained or incorporated by reference
herein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading
or of  the occurrence  of certain  other events  specified in  the  Registration
Rights  Agreement, such Participating Broker-Dealer will suspend the sale of New
Notes pursuant to this Prospectus until the Company has amended or  supplemented
this  Prospectus  to correct  such misstatement  or  omission and  has furnished
copies  of  the  amended  or  supplemented  Prospectus  to  such   Participating
Broker-Dealer or the Company has given notice that the sale of the New Notes may
be  resumed, as the case may be. If the Company gives such notice to suspend the
sale of the  New Notes,  it shall  extend the  90-day period  referred to  above
during which Participating Broker-Dealers are entitled to use this Prospectus in
connection  with the resale of New Notes by the number of days during the period
from and including the date  of the giving of such  notice to and including  the
date when Participating Broker-Dealers shall have received copies of the amended
or  supplemented Prospectus necessary to  permit resales of the  New Notes or to
and including the date on  which the Company has given  notice that the sale  of
New Notes may be resumed, as the case may be.
 
    The New Notes will be a new issue of securities for which there currently is
no  market. Although the Initial Purchasers  have informed the Company that they
each currently intend to make a market in the New Notes, they are not  obligated
to  do so, and  any such market making  may be discontinued  at any time without
notice. Accordingly,  there  can  be  no assurance  as  to  the  development  or
liquidity of any market for the New Notes. The Company currently does not intend
to  apply  for  listing of  the  New Notes  on  any securities  exchange  or for
quotation through  the  National  Association of  Securities  Dealers  Automated
Quotation System.
 
    Any  Old Notes not tendered  and accepted in the  Exchange Offer will remain
outstanding and will be entitled to all  the same rights and will be subject  to
the  same limitations applicable  thereto under the  Indenture (except for those
rights which  terminate  upon consummation  of  the Exchange  Offer).  Following
consummation of the Exchange Offer, the holders of Old Notes will continue to be
subject  to the existing restrictions upon transfer thereof and the Company will
have no further obligation to
 
                                       3

such holders  (other  than  to  the Initial  Purchasers  under  certain  limited
circumstances)  to provide for registration under  the Securities Act of the Old
Notes held by them. To  the extent that Old Notes  are tendered and accepted  in
the  Exchange Offer, a  holder's ability to  sell untendered Old  Notes could be
adversely affected.  See  "Summary  --  Certain Consequences  of  a  Failure  to
Exchange Old Notes."
 
    THIS  PROSPECTUS  AND THE  RELATED LETTER  OF TRANSMITTAL  CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION. HOLDERS OF  OLD NOTES  ARE URGED TO  READ THIS  PROSPECTUS AND  THE
RELATED  LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO TENDER THEIR
OLD NOTES PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER.
 
   
    Old Notes may be tendered  for exchange on or prior  to 5:00 p.m., New  York
City time, on June 28, 1996 (such time on such date being hereinafter called the
"Expiration  Date"), unless  the Exchange Offer  is extended by  the Company (in
which case the term  "Expiration Date" shall  mean the latest  date and time  to
which  the Exchange Offer is extended). Tenders of Old Notes may be withdrawn at
any time  on  or  prior to  the  Expiration  Date. The  Exchange  Offer  is  not
conditioned  upon any minimum  principal amount of Old  Notes being tendered for
exchange.  However,  the  Exchange  Offer  is  subject  to  certain  events  and
conditions which may be waived by the Company and to the terms and provisions of
the Registration Rights Agreement. Old Notes may be tendered in whole or in part
in  a principal amount of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. The Company has
agreed to pay all  expenses of the  Exchange Offer. See  "The Exchange Offer  --
Fees  and Expenses." Each New Note will  bear interest from the most recent date
to which interest has been paid or duly provided for on the Old Note surrendered
in exchange for  such New Note  or, if no  such interest has  been paid or  duly
provided  for on such Old Note, from February 29, 1996. Holders of the Old Notes
whose Old Notes are accepted for  exchange will not receive accrued interest  on
such  Old Notes for any period from and  after the last Interest Payment Date to
which interest has been paid or duly provided for on such Old Notes prior to the
original issue date of the  New Notes or, if no  such interest has been paid  or
duly  provided for, will not receive any accrued interest on such Old Notes, and
will be deemed  to have waived  the right to  receive any interest  on such  Old
Notes  accrued from and after such Interest Payment Date or, if no such interest
has been paid or duly provided for, from and after February 29, 1996.
    
 
    The Company will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the  New
Notes  offered hereby. No  dealer-manager is being used  in connection with this
Exchange Offer. See "Use of Proceeds" and "Plan of Distribution."
 
                                       4

                             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
Commission.  Such  reports,  proxy  statements  and  other  information  may  be
inspected and  copied  at the  public  reference facilities  maintained  by  the
Commission  at Room 1024,  450 Fifth Street,  N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington,
D.C. 20549, and  at the Commission's  Regional Offices in  New York City  (Seven
World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048), and Chicago (Citicorp
Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661). Copies of
these  materials  may  be obtained  from  the  Public Reference  Section  of the
Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.
Reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Company may  also
be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New
York, New York 10005.
 
    This  Prospectus constitutes a part of  a registration statement on Form S-4
(together with all  amendments thereto, the  "Registration Statement") filed  by
the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act. This Prospectus, which
forms a part of the Registration Statement, does not contain all the information
set  forth  in the  Registration  Statement, certain  parts  of which  have been
omitted in  accordance  with  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Commission.
Reference  is hereby made to the Registration Statement and related exhibits and
schedules filed therewith for  further information with  respect to the  Company
and  the New  Notes offered hereby.  Statements contained  herein concerning the
provisions of any document are not  necessarily complete and, in each  instance,
reference  is  made  to the  copy  of  such document  filed  or  incorporated by
reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed by  the
Company with the Commission and each such statement is qualified in its entirety
by  such reference.  The Registration Statement  and the  exhibits and schedules
thereto  may  be  inspected  and  copied  at  the  public  reference  facilities
maintained by the Commission at the addresses described above.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
    The  following  documents  have  been  filed  with  the  Commission  and are
incorporated herein  by reference:  (i) the  Company's Proxy  Statement for  its
Annual Meeting of Shareholders dated December 1, 1995; (ii) the Company's Annual
Report  on  Form 10-K  for  the fiscal  year ended  August  31, 1995;  (iii) the
Company's Quarterly Report on  Form 10-Q for the  fiscal quarter ended  November
30,  1995;  (iv) the  Company's Quarterly  Report  on Form  10-Q for  the fiscal
quarter ended February 29,  1996; (v) the Company's  Current Report on Form  8-K
dated  February 7,  1996; (vi)  the Company's Current  Report on  Form 8-K dated
March 15, 1996; and (vii) the Company's  Current Report on Form 8-K dated  April
15, 1996.
 
    All  documents filed by the Company  with the Commission pursuant to Section
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof and prior to
the termination of the Exchange  Offer for the New Notes  shall be deemed to  be
incorporated  by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
respective dates of filing of such documents. Any statement contained herein  or
in  a document  incorporated or  deemed to  be incorporated  by reference herein
shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus  to
the  extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is  incorporated or deemed to  be incorporated by  reference
herein  modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement or document so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute  a  part  of  this  Prospectus.  Subject  to  the  foregoing,  all
information  appearing in  this Prospectus is  qualified in its  entirety by the
information appearing in the documents incorporated herein by reference.
 
    The Company  will  furnish  without  charge to  each  person  to  whom  this
Prospectus  is delivered, upon request,  a copy of any  and all of the documents
incorporated by reference other  than exhibits to such  documents which are  not
specifically  incorporated by reference in  such documents. Written or telephone
requests should be directed to Solectron Corporation, Attention: Susan S.  Wang,
Senior   Vice  President,  Chief  Financial  Officer  and  Secretary,  Solectron
Corporation, 777 Gibraltar  Drive, Milpitas, California  95035, telephone  (408)
957-8500.
 
                                       5

                                    SUMMARY
 
    THE  FOLLOWING SUMMARY IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS ENTIRETY BY,  AND IS SUBJECT TO,
THE DETAILED INFORMATION,  CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  AND NOTES  THERETO
CONTAINED  ELSEWHERE  AND INCORPORATED  BY  REFERENCE IN  THIS  PROSPECTUS. THIS
PROSPECTUS  CONTAINS  FORWARD-LOOKING   STATEMENTS  WHICH   INVOLVE  RISKS   AND
UNCERTAINTIES.  THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS  COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE
ANTICIPATED IN THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF CERTAIN  FACTORS,
INCLUDING THOSE SET FORTH UNDER "RISK FACTORS" AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
FOR  A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN RISK FACTORS  IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, SEE
"RISK FACTORS." AS USED HEREIN, "SOLECTRON" AND THE "COMPANY" REFER TO SOLECTRON
CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
    Solectron Corporation  is  a  leading independent  provider  of  customized,
integrated  manufacturing services to  original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs")
in the electronics industry.  The Company's goal is  to offer its customers  the
significant  competitive advantages of outsourcing  their manufacturing, such as
access to advanced manufacturing technologies, shortened product time-to-market,
reduced cost  of  production and  more  effective asset  utilization.  Solectron
provides  sophisticated electronic assembly and turnkey manufacturing management
services in the Western  and Eastern United States,  Europe and Southeast  Asia.
The Company's customers include Apple Computer, Applied Materials, Bay Networks,
Cisco  Systems, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Silicon Graphics and Sun Microsystems. The
Company has received numerous superior service and quality awards, including the
Malcolm  Baldridge  National  Quality  Award  in  October  1991,  the  State  of
California  Governor's Golden State Award in September 1994, and numerous awards
from customers and vendors.
 
    The Company has  experienced substantial  growth over the  last four  fiscal
years,  with net  sales increasing  from $265.4 million  in fiscal  1991 to $2.1
billion in fiscal 1995 and net income  growing from $9.2 million in fiscal  1991
to  $79.5  million  in  fiscal 1995.  Solectron  is  benefitting  from increased
worldwide acceptance of and reliance  upon the use of manufacturing  specialists
by many electronics OEMs.
 
    Solectron's   electronic  assembly  activities   consist  primarily  of  the
placement and  attachment of  electronic and  mechanical components  on  printed
circuit  boards  and flexible  cables  using surface  mount  technology ("SMT"),
pin-through-hole ("PTH") technology and emerging interconnect technologies.  The
Company  also  assembles  higher-level  sub-systems  and  systems  incorporating
printed circuit boards and complex  electromechanical components, in some  cases
manufacturing  and packaging  products for  shipment directly  to the customer's
distributors. In  addition,  Solectron  provides  other  manufacturing  services
including   refurbishment,   disk   duplication  and   packaging   services  and
remanufacturing. Solectron  manufactures  on  a turnkey  basis,  with  Solectron
directly  procuring some or all of  the components necessary for production, and
on a  consignment basis,  where the  OEM customer  supplies all  components  for
assembly. The Company also assists its customers in evaluating board designs for
manufacturability.
 
    Solectron's  strategy is to establish  manufacturing partnerships with major
and emerging OEM leaders in the electronics industry, including manufacturers of
computers,   communications    equipment,   avionics    systems   and    medical
instrumentation.  The Company  focuses its efforts  on customers  with which the
opportunity exists to develop long-term business partnerships across a number of
products and through successive  product generations. The  Company's goal is  to
provide  its  customers with  total  manufacturing solutions,  ranging  from the
manufacture of complex, high value-added  products to high-volume production  of
price-sensitive products.
 
    Solectron   has  made  selective  acquisitions   to  broaden  its  worldwide
capabilities. The Company acquired facilities  in Charlotte, North Carolina  and
Bordeaux,  France in 1992 from IBM.  The Company acquired operations in Everett,
Washington in 1992 and in Boeblingen,  Germany in 1995 from Hewlett-Packard  and
in  Dunfermline, Scotland in  1993 from Philips Electronics.  On March 18, 1996,
Solectron purchased Fine Pitch Technology, Inc. located in San Jose,  California
to enhance the
 
                                       6

Company's  ability to provide high  complexity, quick-turn prototyping services.
On March  31, 1996,  the  Company purchased  the custom  manufacturing  services
("CMS")  business of  Texas Instruments  Incorporated ("TI")  located in Austin,
Texas and certain  fixed assets of  TI's CMS business  located in Kuala  Lumpur,
Malaysia.
 
    Solectron  Corporation  was  incorporated  in  California  in  August  1977.
Solectron's executive  offices are  located at  777 Gibraltar  Drive,  Milpitas,
California 95035. The Company's telephone number is (408) 957-8500.
 
                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
   

                                          
The Exchange Offer.........................  Up  to $150,000,000 aggregate  principal amount of  New Notes are
                                             being offered in exchange for  a like aggregate principal  amount
                                             of  Old Notes. Old Notes may be tendered for exchange in whole or
                                             in part in a  principal amount of  $1,000 and integral  multiples
                                             thereof.  The Company  is making the  Exchange Offer  in order to
                                             satisfy its obligations under  the Registration Rights  Agreement
                                             relating  to the Old  Notes. For a  description of the procedures
                                             for tendering Old  Notes, see "The  Exchange Offer --  Procedures
                                             for Tendering Old Notes."
 
Expiration Date............................  5:00  p.m., New York  City time, on  June 28, 1996  (such time on
                                             such date being hereinafter called the "Expiration Date")  unless
                                             the  Exchange Offer is extended by the Company (in which case the
                                             term "Expiration Date"  shall mean  the latest date  and time  to
                                             which the Exchange Offer is extended). See "The Exchange Offer --
                                             Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments."
 
Certain Conditions to the Exchange Offer...  The  Exchange Offer is subject to certain conditions. The Company
                                             reserves the right in its  sole and absolute discretion,  subject
                                             to  applicable law,  at any  time and from  time to  time, (i) to
                                             delay the  acceptance of  the  Old Notes  for exchange,  (ii)  to
                                             terminate the Exchange Offer if certain specified conditions have
                                             not  been satisfied, (iii)  to extend the  Expiration Date of the
                                             Exchange Offer and retain all Old Notes tendered pursuant to  the
                                             Exchange  Offer, subject, however, to the right of holders of Old
                                             Notes to withdraw their tendered Old Notes, or (iv) to waive  any
                                             condition  or otherwise amend the terms  of the Exchange Offer in
                                             any  respect.  See  "The  Exchange  Offer  --  Expiration   Date;
                                             Extensions;   Amendments"  and  "--  Certain  Conditions  to  the
                                             Exchange Offer."
 
Withdrawal Rights..........................  Tenders of Old Notes may be withdrawn at any time on or prior  to
                                             the  Expiration  Date  by  delivering a  written  notice  of such
                                             withdrawal to

    
 
                                       7

 
   

                                          
                                             the Exchange  Agent in  conformity  with certain  procedures  set
                                             forth below under "The Exchange Offer -- Withdrawal Rights."
 
Procedures for Tendering Old Notes.........  Tendering holders of Old Notes must complete and sign a Letter of
                                             Transmittal in accordance with the instructions contained therein
                                             and  forward  the  same  by  mail,  facsimile  or  hand delivery,
                                             together with any other required documents, to the Exchange Agent
                                             (as defined below), either with the  Old Notes to be tendered  or
                                             in  compliance  with  the  specified  procedures  for  guaranteed
                                             delivery of  Old  Notes.  Certain  brokers,  dealers,  commercial
                                             banks, trust companies and other nominees may also effect tenders
                                             by  book-entry transfer. Holders  of Old Notes  registered in the
                                             name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other
                                             nominee are urged to contact such person promptly if they wish to
                                             tender Old  Notes  pursuant  to  the  Exchange  Offer.  See  "The
                                             Exchange Offer -- Procedures for Tendering Old Notes." Letters of
                                             Transmittal and certificates representing Old Notes should not be
                                             sent  to the Company.  Such documents should only  be sent to the
                                             Exchange Agent. Questions  regarding how to  tender and  requests
                                             for  information should  be directed  to the  Exchange Agent. See
                                             "The Exchange Offer -- Exchange Agent."
 
Resales of New Notes.......................  The Company  is making  the  Exchange Offer  in reliance  on  the
                                             position  of the staff of the  Division of Corporation Finance of
                                             the Commission as set forth in the staff's Exxon Capital  Letter,
                                             Morgan  Stanley  Letter,  Shearman &  Sterling  Letter  and other
                                             interpretive  letters  addressed  to   third  parties  in   other
                                             transactions.  However,  the  Company  has  not  sought  its  own
                                             interpretive letter and there can be no assurance that the  staff
                                             of  the Division of  Corporation Finance of  the Commission would
                                             make a similar determination with  respect to the Exchange  Offer
                                             as it has in such interpretive letters to third parties. Based on
                                             these interpretations by the staff of the Division of Corporation
                                             Finance,  and subject to the two immediately following sentences,
                                             the Company  believes  that New  Notes  issued pursuant  to  this
                                             Exchange  Offer  in exchange  for Old  Notes  may be  offered for
                                             resale, resold  and otherwise  transferred  by a  holder  thereof
                                             (other  than  a holder  who is  a broker-dealer)  without further
                                             compliance  with   the  registration   and  prospectus   delivery
                                             requirements  of the Securities Act, provided that such New Notes
                                             are acquired in the ordinary course of such holder's business and
                                             that such

    
 
                                       8

 

                                          
                                             holder  is  not   participating,  and  has   no  arrangement   or
                                             understanding  with any person to  participate, in a distribution
                                             (within the meaning  of the  Securities Act) of  such New  Notes.
                                             However,  any holder  of Old Notes  who is an  "affiliate" of the
                                             Company or who intends to  participate in the Exchange Offer  for
                                             the  purpose of distributing the  New Notes, or any broker-dealer
                                             who purchased the Old Notes  from the Company to resell  pursuant
                                             to   Rule  144A  or  any  other  available  exemption  under  the
                                             Securities  Act,  (a)   will  not   be  able  to   rely  on   the
                                             interpretations  of  the  staff of  the  Division  of Corporation
                                             Finance of  the  Commission  set  forth  in  the  above-mentioned
                                             interpretive  letters, (b) will  not be permitted  or entitled to
                                             tender such Old Notes in the  Exchange Offer and (c) must  comply
                                             with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
                                             Securities  Act in connection with any  sale or other transfer of
                                             such Old Notes unless such sale is made pursuant to an  exemption
                                             from  such requirements. In addition,  as described below, if any
                                             broker-dealer holds Old Notes acquired  for its own account as  a
                                             result of market-making or other trading activities and exchanges
                                             such  Old  Notes  for  New Notes,  then  such  broker-dealer must
                                             deliver a prospectus meeting  the requirements of the  Securities
                                             Act in connection with any resales of such New Notes.
 
                                             Each holder of Old Notes who wishes to exchange Old Notes for New
                                             Notes  in the Exchange  Offer will be  required to represent that
                                             (i) it is not an "affiliate"  of the Company, (ii) any New  Notes
                                             to be received by it are being acquired in the ordinary course of
                                             its  business, (iii) it has  no arrangement or understanding with
                                             any person to participate in a distribution (withing the  meaning
                                             of the Securities Act) of such New Notes, and (iv) if such holder
                                             is  not a broker-dealer, such holder  is not engaged in, and does
                                             not intend to engage  in, a distribution  (within the meaning  of
                                             the  Securities Act) of  such New Notes.  Each broker-dealer that
                                             receives New Notes for its  own account pursuant to the  Exchange
                                             Offer must acknowledge that it acquired the Old Notes for its own
                                             account  as  the  result  of  market-making  activities  or other
                                             trading  activities  and  must  agree  that  it  will  deliver  a
                                             prospectus  meeting  the requirements  of  the Securities  Act in
                                             connection with  any resale  of  such New  Notes. The  Letter  of
                                             Transmittal  states that by so  acknowledging and by delivering a
                                             prospectus,   a   broker-dealer   will    not   be   deemed    to

 
                                       9

 

                                          
                                             admit  that  it is  an "underwriter"  within  the meaning  of the
                                             Securities Act. Based on the position  taken by the staff of  the
                                             Division   of  Corporation  Finance  of  the  Commission  in  the
                                             interpretive letters referred to above, the Company believes that
                                             broker-dealers who acquired Old Notes for their own accounts as a
                                             result of market-making  activities or  other trading  activities
                                             ("Participating  Broker-Dealers")  may  fulfill  their prospectus
                                             delivery requirements with respect to the New Notes received upon
                                             exchange of such Old Notes (other than Old Notes which  represent
                                             an unsold allotment from the original sale of the Old Notes) with
                                             a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act which
                                             may  be the prospectus prepared for  an exchange offer so long as
                                             it contains  a  description  of the  plan  of  distribution  with
                                             respect  to  the  resale  of such  New  Notes.  Accordingly, this
                                             Prospectus, as it  may be  amended or supplemented  form time  to
                                             time,  may be used by a Participating Broker-Dealer in connection
                                             with resales  of New  Notes received  in exchange  for Old  Notes
                                             where   such  Old  Notes  were  acquired  by  such  Participating
                                             Broker-Dealer for its own account as a result of market-making or
                                             other trading activities. Subject to certain provisions set forth
                                             in the  Registration  Rights  Agreement and  to  the  limitations
                                             described  below  under  "The  Exchange Offer  --  Resale  of New
                                             Notes," the Company has agreed that this Prospectus, as it may be
                                             amended or  supplemented from  time to  time, may  be used  by  a
                                             Participating  Broker-Dealer in  connection with  resales of such
                                             New Notes for a period ending  90 days after the Expiration  Date
                                             (subject to extension under certain limited circumstances) or, if
                                             earlier,  when all such  New Notes have been  disposed of by such
                                             Participating Broker-Dealer.  See  "Plan  of  Distribution."  Any
                                             Participating  Broker-Dealer who is an "affiliate" of the Company
                                             may not rely on  such interpretive letters  and must comply  with
                                             the  registration  and  prospectus delivery  requirements  of the
                                             Securities Act  in connection  with any  resale transaction.  See
                                             "The Exchange Offer -- Resales of New Notes."
 
Exchange Agent.............................  The  exchange agent with  respect to the  Exchange Offer is State
                                             Street  Bank  and  Trust  Company  (the  "Exchange  Agent").  The
                                             addresses,  telephone and facsimile numbers of the Exchange Agent
                                             are set forth in  "The Exchange Offer --  Exchange Agent" and  in
                                             the Letter of Transmittal.

 
                                       10

 

                                          
Use of Proceeds............................  The  Company will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance
                                             of the New Notes offered hereby. See "Use of Proceeds."
 
Certain United States Federal Income Tax
 Considerations............................  Holders of  Old Notes  should review  the information  set  forth
                                             under  "Certain United States  Federal Income Tax Considerations"
                                             prior to tendering Old Notes in the Exchange Offer.

 
                               TERMS OF NEW NOTES
 
    The Exchange Offer applies to up to $150,000,000 aggregate principal  amount
of  the Company's Old  Notes. The New  Notes will be  obligations of the Company
evidencing the same debt as the Old  Notes and will be entitled to the  benefits
of the same Indenture. See "Description of New Notes." The form and terms of the
New  Notes are the same as  the form and terms of  the Old Notes in all material
respects except that the New Notes have been registered under the Securities Act
and hence do not  include certain rights to  registration thereunder and do  not
contain  transfer restrictions  or terms  with respect  to the  special interest
payments applicable  to  the  Old  Notes pursuant  to  the  Registration  Rights
Agreement. See "Description of the New Notes."
 

                                          
New Notes Offered..........................  $150,000,000  aggregate principal  amount of 7  3/8% Senior Notes
                                             due 2006, Series  B. The  New Notes will  be issued  and the  Old
                                             Notes  were issued  under an Indenture  dated as  of February 15,
                                             1996 (the "Indenture") between the Company and State Street  Bank
                                             and  Trust Company, as trustee (the "Trustee"). The New Notes and
                                             any Old Notes which remain outstanding after consummation of  the
                                             Exchange  Offer will vote together as a single class for purposes
                                             of determining  whether holders  of the  requisite percentage  in
                                             outstanding  principal amount thereof  have taken certain actions
                                             or exercised certain rights under the Indenture. See "Description
                                             of the New Notes -- General."
 
                                             The terms of the New Notes are identical in all material respects
                                             to the terms of the Old Notes, except that (i) the New Notes have
                                             been registered under the Securities  Act and therefore will  not
                                             be  subject to certain restrictions on transfer applicable to the
                                             Old Notes  and will  not be  entitled to  registration rights  or
                                             other rights under the Registration Rights Agreement and (ii) the
                                             New  Notes will not provide for any increase in the interest rate
                                             thereon pursuant to the  Registration Rights Agreement. See  "The
                                             Exchange Offer -- Purpose of the Exchange Offer," "Description of
                                             the New Notes," and "Description of the Old Notes."
 
Maturity Date..............................  March 1, 2006.

 
                                       11

 

                                          
Interest Payment Dates.....................  Interest will accrue from February 29, 1996, the date of issuance
                                             of  the Old Notes, and will be payable semiannually on each March
                                             1 and September 1, commencing September 1, 1996.
 
Interest Adjustment........................  The New Notes will bear interest at the rate of 7 3/8% per annum,
                                             subject to  a  single  permanent  increase  of  0.25%  per  annum
                                             depending  upon the  Initial Rating.  "Initial Rating"  means the
                                             rating initially  assigned  to  the New  Notes  by  the  National
                                             Association  of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC"). The Company has
                                             agreed to use its reasonable efforts to assist in the process  of
                                             obtaining  the  Initial  Rating  from  the  NAIC  as  promptly as
                                             practicable. The rate of interest borne by the New Notes will  be
                                             increased  by 0.25%  if either  (a) the  Initial Rating  is below
                                             NAIC-2 or (b)  no Initial  Rating has  been assigned  to the  New
                                             Notes by September 1, 1996.
 
Redemption.................................  The New Notes may not be redeemed prior to maturity.
 
Sinking Fund...............................  None.
 
Ranking....................................  The   New   Notes   will   constitute   unsecured  unsubordinated
                                             indebtedness of the  Company and  will rank pari  passu with  all
                                             other  unsecured and  unsubordinated indebtedness  of the Company
                                             for borrowed money. Because the Company is a holding company, the
                                             New Notes will  be effectively subordinated  to all existing  and
                                             future    indebtedness,   trade   payables,   guarantees,   lease
                                             obligations and  letter of  credit obligations  of the  Company's
                                             subsidiaries. As of February 29, 1996, the Company's subsidiaries
                                             had  approximately $375  million of  outstanding indebtedness and
                                             other  obligations   (excluding  inter-company   payables).   See
                                             "Capitalization"  and "Description  of the New  Notes -- Ranking;
                                             Holding Company Structure."
 
Absence of Market for the New Notes........  The New Notes will be a  new issue of securities for which  there
                                             currently  is no market. Although Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
                                             Smith  Incorporated,  Morgan  Stanley  &  Co.  Incorporated   and
                                             Hambrecht  & Quist LLC,  the initial purchasers  of the Old Notes
                                             (the "Initial Purchasers"), have  informed the Company that  they
                                             each currently intend to make a market in the New Notes, they are
                                             not  obligated  to  do so,  and  any  such market  making  may be
                                             discontinued at any time  without notice. Accordingly, there  can
                                             be  no assurance as to the development or liquidity of any market
                                             for the New Notes. The Company

 
                                       12

 

                                          
                                             currently does not intend to apply  for listing of the New  Notes
                                             on  any securities exchange or for quotation through the National
                                             Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System.
 
Use of Proceeds............................  The Company  will  not receive  any  proceeds from  the  Exchange
                                             Offer.

 
            CERTAIN CONSEQUENCES OF A FAILURE TO EXCHANGE OLD NOTES
 
    The Old Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state
securities  laws and therefore may not be offered, sold or otherwise transferred
except in compliance with  the registration requirements  of the Securities  Act
and  any other applicable securities laws, or pursuant to an exemption therefrom
or in a transaction  not subject thereto,  and in each  case in compliance  with
certain  other  conditions and  restrictions,  including the  Company's  and the
Trustee's right in certain cases to require the delivery of opinions of counsel,
certifications and other information prior to any such transfer. Old Notes which
remain outstanding after  consummation of  the Exchange Offer  will continue  to
bear  a  legend  reflecting such  restrictions  on transfer.  In  addition, upon
consummation  of  the  Exchange  Offer,  holders  of  Old  Notes  which   remain
outstanding will not be entitled to any rights to have such Old Notes registered
under  the Securities Act or to any similar rights under the Registration Rights
Agreement (subject  to  certain  limited exceptions  applicable  solely  to  the
Initial Purchasers). The Company currently does not intend to register under the
Securities  Act any Old Notes which remain outstanding after consummation of the
Exchange Offer (subject to such limited exceptions, if applicable).
 
    To the extent that Old Notes are tendered and accepted in the Exchange Offer
any trading market  for Old Notes  which remain outstanding  after the  Exchange
Offer could be adversely affected.
 
    The  New Notes and any Old Notes which remain outstanding after consummation
of the Exchange  Offer will  vote together  as a  single class  for purposes  of
determining whether holders of the requisite percentage in outstanding principal
amount  thereof have taken certain actions or exercised certain rights under the
Indenture. See "Description of the New Notes -- General."
 
    The Old Notes  provide that,  if the Exchange  Offer is  not consummated  by
August 27, 1996, the interest rate borne by the Old Notes will increase by 0.50%
per annum following August 27, 1996 until the Exchange Offer is consummated. See
"Description  of the Old  Notes." Following consummation  of the Exchange Offer,
neither the Old Notes nor the New Notes will be entitled to any increase in  the
interest  rate thereon (other than any  increase in interest rate resulting from
the Initial Rating).
 
                                       13

                                  RISK FACTORS
 
    THIS  PROSPECTUS CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WHICH INVOLVE RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES. THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS  COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM  THOSE
ANTICIPATED  IN THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF CERTAIN FACTORS,
INCLUDING THOSE SET FORTH  IN THE FOLLOWING RISK  FACTORS AND ELSEWHERE IN  THIS
PROSPECTUS.  IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER  INFORMATION CONTAINED AND INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS,  THE FOLLOWING RISK  FACTORS SHOULD BE  CONSIDERED
CAREFULLY  IN EVALUATING THE COMPANY AND ITS BUSINESS BEFORE TENDERING THEIR OLD
NOTES IN EXCHANGE FOR THE NEW NOTES OFFERED HEREBY.
 
CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION; DEPENDENCE ON THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY
 
    A small  number of  customers are  currently responsible  for a  significant
portion  of the Company's net  sales. In each of the  three and six months ended
February 29, 1996 and the  fiscal years 1995, 1994  and 1993, the Company's  ten
largest  customers accounted for over 65% of consolidated net sales. The Company
is dependent upon continued  revenues from its top  ten customers. Any  material
delay,  cancellation or reduction of orders  from these or other customers could
have a materially  adverse effect on  the Company's results  of operations.  The
Company's largest customer during the first half of fiscal 1996, Hewlett-Packard
Corporation,  accounted for 11% of consolidated net sales, compared to less than
10% in the  first half of  fiscal 1995. For  the six months  ended February  28,
1995,  International Business Machines ("IBM") represented the Company's largest
customer with sales accounting  for 23% of consolidated  net sales. For the  six
months  ended February 29, 1996, sales to IBM were less than 10% of consolidated
net sales. The Company  had a manufacturing services  agreement with IBM at  its
Bordeaux,  France facility that  expired on December  31, 1995. There  can be no
assurance that the Company will continue to do business with IBM.
 
    The percentage of the Company's sales  to its major customers may  fluctuate
from period to period. Significant reductions in sales to any of these customers
would  have a materially adverse effect  on the Company's results of operations.
The  Company  has  no  firm  long-term  volume  purchase  commitments  from  its
customers,  and over  the past few  years has experienced  reduced lead-times in
customer orders.  In addition,  customer contracts  can be  canceled and  volume
levels can be changed or delayed. The timely replacement of canceled, delayed or
reduced  contracts  with  new  business  cannot  be  assured.  These  risks  are
exacerbated because a majority  of the Company's sales  are to customers in  the
electronics industry, which is subject to rapid technological change and product
obsolescence.  The factors affecting the electronics industry in general, or any
of the Company's major customers in particular, could have a materially  adverse
effect on the Company's results of operations.
 
MANAGEMENT OF GROWTH; GEOGRAPHIC EXPANSION
 
    The  Company has  experienced substantial growth  over the  last four fiscal
years, with net  sales increasing  from $265.4 million  in fiscal  1991 to  $2.1
billion  in fiscal 1995. In recent years, the Company has acquired facilities in
seven  locations,  including  the  Company's  recent  purchase  of  the   custom
manufacturing services ("CMS") business of Texas Instruments Incorporated ("TI")
located  in  Austin,  Texas.  There  can  be  no  assurance  that  the Company's
historical revenue growth will  continue or that  the Company will  successfully
manage  the  integration of  the CMS  business  or any  other businesses  it may
acquire in  the future.  As  the Company  manages  its existing  operations  and
expands   geographically,  it  may  experience   certain  inefficiencies  as  it
integrates new operations  and manages geographically  dispersed operations.  In
addition, the Company's results of operations could be adversely affected if its
new facilities do not achieve growth sufficient to offset increased expenditures
associated   with  geographic   expansion.  Should  the   Company  increase  its
expenditures in  anticipation  of  a  future  level  of  sales  which  does  not
materialize,  its  profitability  would  be  adversely  affected.  On  occasion,
customers may require rapid increases in production which can place an excessive
burden on the Company's resources.
 
TI TRANSACTION
 
    On March 31, 1996, the Company completed the purchase of the CMS business of
TI located in Austin, Texas and certain  assets of TI's CMS business located  in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (the "TI
 
                                       14

Transaction").   The  TI  Transaction  entails  a  number  of  risks,  including
successfully managing the transition of customers from TI to Solectron, managing
the transition at the Austin site  from TI to Solectron, integrating  purchasing
operations and information systems and managing a larger and more geographically
disparate  business. In the  TI Transaction, the  Company acquired manufacturing
assets and inventory, accounts receivable, assumed associated liabilities, hired
employees and leased space in Austin,  Texas, and purchased certain assets  from
TI's facility in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Neither TI nor the customers of the CMS
business  have guaranteed any  future volume of business  in the TI Transaction.
The CMS  business  will increase  the  Company's expenses  and  working  capital
requirements,  and place  burdens on  the Company's  management resources.  As a
result, the success of the acquisition  is dependent upon the Company's  ability
to  successfully  manage  the  integration  of  the  CMS  operations  and retain
customers of the CMS business. In the event the Company is unsuccessful in these
efforts, the  Company's  results of  operations  could be  materially  adversely
affected.
 
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
 
    Approximately  33% and 38%  of the Company's net  sales were from operations
outside the United  States in  the six  months ended  February 29,  1996 and  in
fiscal  1995, respectively. As a result of its foreign sales and facilities, the
Company's operations are subject  to risks of  doing business abroad,  including
but  not  limited to,  fluctuations  in the  value  of currency,  export duties,
changes  to  import   and  export  regulations   (including  quotas),   possible
restrictions  on the transfer of funds,  employee turnover, labor unrest, longer
payment cycles,  greater  difficulty  in  collecting  accounts  receivable,  the
burdens  and costs of compliance with a  variety of foreign laws and, in certain
parts of the world, political instability. While to date these factors have  not
had  an adverse impact on  the Company's results of  operations, there can be no
assurance that there will not be such an impact in the future. In addition,  the
Company  currently benefits  from a  tax holiday  in its  Penang, Malaysia site,
which expires in January 1997, subject to certain extensions. If the tax holiday
is not extended, the Company's effective income tax rate will increase.
 
AVAILABILITY OF COMPONENTS
 
    A substantial portion of  the Company's net sales  are derived from  turnkey
manufacturing  in  which the  Company  provides both  materials  procurement and
assembly. In  turnkey manufacturing,  the Company  typically bears  the risk  of
component  price  increases, which  could adversely  affect the  Company's gross
profit margins. At various times there have been shortages of components in  the
electronics industry. In addition, if significant shortages of components should
occur,  the Company  may be forced  to delay manufacturing  and shipments, which
would have a materially adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.
 
POTENTIAL FLUCTUATIONS IN OPERATING RESULTS
 
    The Company's  operating  results  are  affected by  a  number  of  factors,
including  the mix  of turnkey  and consignment  projects, capacity utilization,
price competition, the  degree of automation  that can be  used in the  assembly
process,  the  efficiencies that  can  be achieved  by  the Company  in managing
inventories and  fixed  assets,  the  timing of  orders  from  major  customers,
fluctuations  in demand  for customer  products, the  timing of  expenditures in
anticipation of  increased sales,  customer  product delivery  requirements  and
increased  costs and  shortages of  components or  labor. The  Company's turnkey
manufacturing, which typically results in higher net sales and gross profits but
lower gross  profit margins  than assembly  and testing  services, represents  a
substantial percentage of net sales. All of these factors can cause fluctuations
in the Company's operating results.
 
COMPETITION
 
    The  electronics assembly and manufacturing industry is comprised of a large
number of companies, several  of which have  achieved substantial market  share.
The  Company also faces competition from current and prospective customers which
evaluate Solectron's capabilities against  the merits of manufacturing  products
internally. Solectron competes with different companies depending on the type of
service  or geographic area.  Certain of the  Company's competitors have broader
geographic
 
                                       15

breadth. They  also  may have  greater  manufacturing, financial,  research  and
development  and marketing resources than the Company. The Company believes that
the primary  basis  of competition  in  its targeted  markets  is  manufacturing
technology,  quality, responsiveness, the provision  of value-added services and
price. To  be competitive,  the Company  must provide  technologically  advanced
manufacturing services, high product quality levels, flexible delivery schedules
and  reliable delivery  of finished products  on a timely  and price competitive
basis. The Company currently  may be at a  competitive disadvantage as to  price
when  compared to  manufacturers with  lower cost  structures, particularly with
respect to  manufacturers  with established  facilities  where labor  costs  are
lower.
 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION
 
    The  Company's ability to compete may be  affected by its ability to protect
its proprietary  information. The  Company  obtained a  limited number  of  U.S.
patents  in 1995 related to the process  and equipment used in its surface mount
technology. The Company believes these patents are valuable. However, there  can
be  no  assurance  these  patents will  provide  meaningful  protection  for the
Company's manufacturing process and equipment innovations.
 
    There can be no  assurance that third parties  will not assert  infringement
claims  against the Company or its customers in the future. In the event a third
party does assert an infringement claim,  the Company may be required to  expend
significant  resources to  develop a  noninfringing manufacturing  process or to
obtain licenses to the manufacturing process which is the subject of litigation.
There can  be  no  assurance  that  the Company  would  be  successful  in  such
development  or  that  any  such licenses  would  be  available  on commercially
acceptable terms, if at all. In  addition, such litigation could be lengthy  and
costly  and could  have a materially  adverse effect on  the Company's financial
condition regardless of the outcome of such litigation.
 
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
 
    The Company is subject to a variety of environmental regulations relating to
the use, storage, discharge and disposal of hazardous chemicals used during  its
manufacturing  process. Any  failure by the  Company to comply  with present and
future regulations could subject it to  future liabilities or the suspension  of
production.  In addition, such regulations  could restrict the Company's ability
to expand  its  facilities  or  could require  the  Company  to  acquire  costly
equipment  or to incur  other significant expenses  to comply with environmental
regulations.
 
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL AND SKILLED EMPLOYEES
 
    The Company's continued success depends to  a large extent upon the  efforts
and abilities of key managerial and technical employees. The loss of services of
certain key personnel could have a materially adverse effect on the Company. The
Company's  business also  depends upon  its ability  to continue  to attract and
retain senior managers and skilled employees.  Failure to do so could  adversely
affect the Company's operations.
 
HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE
 
    The  Company is a holding company and, accordingly, substantially all of its
operations are conducted through its subsidiaries. The cash flow and  consequent
ability  of the  Company to service  debt, including  the Old Notes  and the New
Notes, is dependent upon the earnings from the business conducted by the Company
through its subsidiaries and the distribution  of those earnings, or upon  loans
or  other  payments  of  funds,  by  those  subsidiaries  to  the  Company.  The
subsidiaries have no obligation to pay any amounts due pursuant to the Old Notes
and the New Notes (which are obligations exclusively of the Company), and  their
payment  of dividends or distributions and making  of loans or other payments to
the Company  could be  subject  to statutory  or contractual  restrictions,  are
contingent  upon the subsidiaries' earnings and  are subject to various business
considerations. The  Old Notes  are,  and the  New  Notes will  be,  effectively
subordinated   to  all   existing  and  future   indebtedness,  trade  payables,
guarantees,  lease  obligations,   letter  of  credit   obligations  and   other
obligations of
 
                                       16

the  Company's subsidiaries. As of February 29, 1996, the Company's subsidiaries
had approximately $375 million of outstanding indebtedness and other obligations
(excluding inter-company  payables).  See  "Description  of  the  New  Notes  --
Ranking; Holding Company Structure."
 
ABSENCE OF PUBLIC MARKET FOR THE NOTES
 
    The  New Notes are being  offered to the holders of  the Old Notes. Prior to
this Exchange Offer, there has  been no public market for  the Old Notes or  the
New  Notes. The Company does not intend to apply for listing of the New Notes on
any securities exchange  or for  quotation through the  National Association  of
Securities  Dealers  Automated  Quotation System.  The  Initial  Purchasers have
informed the Company  that they currently  intend to  make a market  in the  New
Notes.  However, the Initial Purchasers are not  obligated to do so and any such
market making may  be discontinued  at any  time without  notice. Therefore,  no
assurance can be given as to whether an active trading market will develop or be
maintained  for the New Notes.  If the New Notes  are traded after their initial
issuance they  may  trade at  a  discount  from their  initial  offering  price,
depending  on prevailing interest  rates, the market  for similar securities and
other factors, including the financial  condition, performance and prospects  of
the  Company. If any Old  Notes are accepted in  the Exchange Offer, any trading
market for Old Notes which remain outstanding after the Exchange Offer could  be
adversely affected.
 
CONSEQUENCES TO NON-TENDERING HOLDERS OF OLD NOTES
 
    Upon  consummation of the  Exchange Offer, the Company  will have no further
obligation to  register the  Old Notes  (subject to  certain limited  exceptions
applicable  solely to  the Initial Purchasers).  The Company  does not currently
intend to  register  under  the  Securities  Act  any  Old  Notes  which  remain
outstanding  after  consummation  of  the  Exchange  Offer  (subject  to limited
exceptions, if applicable).  Thereafter, any holder  of Old Notes  who does  not
tender  its Old  Notes in  the Exchange Offer  will continue  to hold restricted
securities which may not be offered,  sold or otherwise transferred, pledged  or
hypothecated  except pursuant to Rule 144, Rule  144A and Regulation S under the
Securities Act or pursuant  to any other exemption  from registration under  the
Securities  Act  relating to  the disposition  of  securities, provided  that an
opinion of  counsel  is furnished  to  the Company  that  such an  exemption  is
available.  See "Summary  -- Certain Consequences  of a Failure  to Exchange Old
Notes."
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
    This Exchange  Offer  is  intended  to  satisfy  certain  of  the  Company's
obligations  under the Registration Rights Agreement. Solectron will not receive
any cash proceeds from  the issuance of  the New Notes  offered in the  Exchange
Offer.  In  consideration for  issuing  the New  Notes  as contemplated  in this
Prospectus, the Company  will receive in  exchange Old Notes  in like  principal
amount, the form and terms of which are the same in all material respects as the
form  and terms of the New Notes except  that the New Notes have been registered
under the  Securities Act  and  hence do  not  include certain  restrictions  on
transfer  and  rights to  registration  thereunder and  do  not provide  for any
increase in  the  interest rate  thereon  pursuant to  the  Registration  Rights
Agreement.  The Old Notes surrendered in exchange  for New Notes will be retired
and canceled and cannot be reissued. Accordingly, issuance of the New Notes will
not result in any increase in the indebtedness of the Company.
 
    The net proceeds  from the sale  of the  Old Notes (after  the deduction  of
placement  fees  and other  expenses  of the  offering  of the  Old  Notes) were
approximately $148.6 million. Such proceeds  will be used for general  corporate
purposes,  including to provide for higher levels of working capital required to
support revenue growth and to  finance capital expenditures associated with  the
Company's continued expansion.
 
                                       17

                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
    The  following table sets forth the Company's consolidated capitalization as
of February 29, 1996, as adjusted to give effect to the issuance and sale by the
Company of the Old Notes that occurred  after the close of the Company's  fiscal
quarter  ended February 29, 1996. The Company will not receive any cash proceeds
from the issuance of the New Notes offered in the Exchange Offer.
 


                                                                                          ACTUAL      AS ADJUSTED
                                                                                        -----------  -------------
                                                                                              (IN THOUSANDS,
                                                                                            EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
                                                                                               
Short-term debt, including current portion of long-term debt and capital lease
 obligations..........................................................................  $     3,757  $       3,757
                                                                                        -----------  -------------
                                                                                        -----------  -------------
Long-term liabilities:
  7 3/8% Senior Notes due 2006, Series A..............................................  $   --       $     150,000
  6% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2006..........................................      230,000        230,000
  Zero-coupon convertible subordinated notes due 2012.................................       26,102         26,102
  Other long-term liabilities.........................................................       10,171         10,171
                                                                                        -----------  -------------
    Total long-term liabilities.......................................................      266,273        416,273
                                                                                        -----------  -------------
Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, 1,200,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding...........      --            --
  Common stock, 80,000,000 shares authorized; 50,332,767 shares issued and outstanding
   (1)................................................................................      341,010        341,010
  Retained earnings...................................................................      261,318        261,318
  Cumulative translation adjustment...................................................        2,060          2,060
                                                                                        -----------  -------------
    Total shareholders' equity........................................................      604,388        604,388
                                                                                        -----------  -------------
    Total Capitalization..............................................................  $   870,661  $   1,020,661
                                                                                        -----------  -------------
                                                                                        -----------  -------------

 
- ------------------------
(1) Outstanding  Common Stock  as of  February  29, 1996  does not  include  (i)
    6,641,774  shares of  Common Stock  available for  issuance pursuant  to the
    Company's incentive  stock  option plans,  of  which 4,482,080  shares  were
    subject  to  outstanding  options,  (ii) 1,471,856  shares  of  Common Stock
    available for issuance  pursuant to  the Company's  employee stock  purchase
    plan,  (iii) 1,658,224 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant
    to  the  zero-coupon  convertible  subordinated  notes  due  2012  and  (iv)
    3,401,864  shares of Common  Stock reserved for  issuance upon conversion of
    the notes  offered pursuant  to the  6% Convertible  Subordinated Notes  due
    2006.
 
                                       18

                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
PURPOSE OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
    In  connection with the sale of the  Old Notes, the Company entered into the
Registration Rights Agreement with the Initial Purchasers, pursuant to which the
Company agreed  to use  its reasonable  efforts to  file with  the Commission  a
registration  statement with respect to  the exchange of the  Old Notes for debt
securities with terms identical in all material respects to the terms of the Old
Notes, except that (i) the New  Notes have been registered under the  Securities
Act  and  therefore will  not  be subject  to  certain restrictions  on transfer
applicable to the Old Notes and will  not be entitled to registration and  other
rights  under the Registration Rights Agreement and  (ii) the New Notes will not
provide  for  any  increase  in  the  interest  rate  thereon  pursuant  to  the
Registration  Rights Agreement.  In that  regard, the  Old Notes  provide, among
other things, that, if the Exchange Offer is not consummated by August 27, 1996,
the interest rate borne by the Old Notes following August 27, 1996 will increase
by 0.50% per annum until the Exchange Offer is consummated. Upon consummation of
the Exchange Offer, holders of Old Notes will not be entitled to any increase in
the rate of interest thereon (other than any increase in interest rate resulting
from  the  Initial  Rating)  or  any  further  registration  rights  under   the
Registration  Rights  Agreement, except  that  the Initial  Purchasers  may have
certain registration rights under limited circumstances. See "Summary -- Certain
Consequences of a  Failure to Exchange  Old Notes" and  "Description of the  Old
Notes."
 
    The Exchange Offer is not being made to, nor will the Company accept tenders
for  exchange  from, holders  of  Old Notes  in  any jurisdiction  in  which the
Exchange Offer or  the acceptance thereof  would not be  in compliance with  the
securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction.
 
TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
    The  Company hereby offers, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in  this Prospectus  and in  the accompanying  Letter of  Transmittal,  to
exchange  up to $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount  of New Notes for a like
aggregate principal amount  of Old Notes  properly tendered on  or prior to  the
Expiration Date (as defined below) and not properly withdrawn in accordance with
the  procedures  described below.  The Company  will  issue, promptly  after the
Expiration Date, an  aggregate principal  amount of  up to  $150,000,000 of  New
Notes  in exchange for a like principal amount of outstanding Old Notes tendered
and accepted in connection with the Exchange Offer. Holders may tender their Old
Notes in whole or in part in a principal amount of $1,000 and integral multiples
thereof.
 
    The Exchange Offer is not conditioned  upon any minimum number of Old  Notes
being  tendered.  As  of the  date  of this  Prospectus,  $150,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of Old Notes is outstanding.
 
    Holders of Old  Notes do  not have any  appraisal or  dissenters' rights  in
connection  with  the  Exchange Offer.  Old  Notes  which are  not  tendered for
exchange, are tendered but validly withdrawn or are tendered but not accepted in
connection with the Exchange  Offer will remain outstanding  and be entitled  to
the  benefits  of  the  Indenture,  but will  not  be  entitled  to  any further
registration rights under  the Registration  Rights Agreement,  except that  the
Initial   Purchasers  may   have  certain  registration   rights  under  limited
circumstances.
 
    Certificates for any tendered Old Notes  that are not accepted for  exchange
because  of an invalid tender, the occurrence  of certain other events set forth
herein or otherwise will be returned,  without expense, to the tendering  holder
thereof promptly after the Expiration Date.
 
    Holders  who tender Old Notes in connection with the Exchange Offer will not
be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions
in the Letter of Transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of Old
Notes in connection with  the Exchange Offer. The  Company will pay all  charges
and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes described below, in connection
with the Exchange Offer. See "-- Fees and Expenses."
 
                                       19

    NEITHER  THE BOARD  OF DIRECTORS  OF THE COMPANY  NOR THE  COMPANY MAKES ANY
RECOMMENDATION TO HOLDERS OF OLD NOTES AS  TO WHETHER TO TENDER OR REFRAIN  FROM
TENDERING  ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THEIR OLD NOTES PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER.
IN ADDITION, NO ONE HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO MAKE ANY SUCH RECOMMENDATION. HOLDERS
OF OLD NOTES  MUST MAKE THEIR  OWN DECISION  WHETHER TO TENDER  PURSUANT TO  THE
EXCHANGE  OFFER AND, IF  SO, THE AGGREGATE  AMOUNT OF OLD  NOTES TO TENDER AFTER
READING THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CONSULTING WITH  THEIR
ADVISERS, IF ANY, BASED ON THEIR OWN FINANCIAL POSITION AND REQUIREMENTS.
 
EXPIRATION DATE; EXTENSIONS; AMENDMENTS
 
   
    The  term "Expiration Date" means 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on June 28,
1996 unless the Exchange  Offer is extended  by the Company  (in which case  the
term "Expiration Date" shall mean the latest date and time to which the Exchange
Offer is extended).
    
 
    The   Company  expressly  reserves  the  right  in  its  sole  and  absolute
discretion, subject to applicable law, at any time and from time to time, (i) to
delay the  acceptance of  the Old  Notes  for exchange,  (ii) to  terminate  the
Exchange  Offer (whether or not any Old Notes have theretofore been accepted for
exchange) if the Company determines, in  its sole and absolute discretion,  that
any  of the events or conditions referred to under "-- Certain Conditions to the
Exchange Offer" have  occurred or  exist or have  not been  satisfied, (iii)  to
extend  the  Expiration Date  of the  Exchange  Offer and  retain all  Old Notes
tendered pursuant  to the  Exchange Offer,  subject, however,  to the  right  of
holders of Old Notes to withdraw their tendered Old Notes as described under "--
Withdrawal Rights," and (iv) to waive any condition or otherwise amend the terms
of  the Exchange  Offer in any  respect. If the  Exchange Offer is  amended in a
manner determined by  the Company  to constitute a  material change,  or if  the
Company  waives a  material condition  of the  Exchange Offer,  the Company will
promptly disclose such amendment by means  of a prospectus supplement that  will
be  distributed to the registered holders of the Old Notes, and the Company will
extend the  Exchange  Offer to  the  extent required  by  Rule 14e-1  under  the
Exchange Act.
 
    Any  such delay in  acceptance, extension, termination  or amendment will be
followed promptly by oral or written notice thereof to the Exchange Agent and by
making a public announcement  thereof, and such announcement  in the case of  an
extension  will be made no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next
business day after  the previously scheduled  Expiration Date. Without  limiting
the  manner in which the Company may  choose to make any public announcement and
subject to applicable  law, the  Company shall  have no  obligation to  publish,
advertise  or otherwise communicate  any such public  announcement other than by
issuing a release to the Dow Jones News Service.
 
ACCEPTANCE FOR EXCHANGE AND ISSUANCE OF NEW NOTES
 
    Upon the terms  and subject  to the conditions  of the  Exchange Offer,  the
Company  will exchange, and will issue to  the Exchange Agent, New Notes for Old
Notes validly  tendered and  not withdrawn  (pursuant to  the withdrawal  rights
described under "-- Withdrawal Rights") promptly after the Expiration Date.
 
    In  all cases, delivery of New Notes  in exchange for Old Notes tendered and
accepted for exchange  pursuant to the  Exchange Offer will  be made only  after
timely  receipt  by  the  Exchange  Agent  of  (i)  Old  Notes  or  a book-entry
confirmation of a  book-entry transfer of  Old Notes into  the Exchange  Agent's
account  at The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), (ii) the Letter of Transmittal
(or facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any  required
signature  guarantees, and (iii)  any other documents required  by the Letter of
Transmittal.
 
    The  term  "book-entry  confirmation"  means  a  timely  confirmation  of  a
book-entry transfer of Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC.
 
    Subject  to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, the Company will
be deemed  to have  accepted  for exchange,  and  thereby exchanged,  Old  Notes
validly tendered and not withdrawn as, if
 
                                       20

and  when the Company gives oral or written  notice to the Exchange Agent of the
Company's acceptance of  such Old Notes  for exchange pursuant  to the  Exchange
Offer.  The Exchange Agent will act as agent  for the Company for the purpose of
receiving tenders of Old  Notes, Letters of  Transmittal and related  documents,
and  as agent  for tendering  holders for  the purpose  of receiving  Old Notes,
Letters of  Transmittal and  related  documents and  transmitting New  Notes  to
validly  tendering  holders.  Such  exchange will  be  made  promptly  after the
Expiration Date. If for  any reason whatsoever, acceptance  for exchange or  the
exchange  of any Old  Notes tendered pursuant  to the Exchange  Offer is delayed
(whether before or after the Company's acceptance for exchange of Old Notes)  or
the  Company extends the Exchange  Offer or is unable  to accept for exchange or
exchange Old  Notes  tendered pursuant  to  the Exchange  Offer,  then,  without
prejudice  to the  Company's rights  set forth  herein, the  Exchange Agent may,
nevertheless, on behalf of  the Company and subject  to Rule 14e-1(c) under  the
Exchange  Act, retain tendered Old Notes and such Old Notes may not be withdrawn
except to the  extent tendering  holders are  entitled to  withdrawal rights  as
described under "-- Withdrawal Rights."
 
    Pursuant  to the Letter of  Transmittal, a holder of  Old Notes will warrant
and agree in the Letter of Transmittal  that it has full power and authority  to
tender,  exchange, sell,  assign and transfer  Old Notes, that  the Company will
acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title to the tendered Old Notes,  free
and  clear of  all liens,  restrictions, charges  and encumbrances,  and the Old
Notes tendered for exchange  are not subject to  any adverse claims or  proxies.
The  holder also will warrant and agree  that it will, upon request, execute and
deliver any additional documents deemed by the Company or the Exchange Agent  to
be  necessary  or  desirable to  complete  the exchange,  sale,  assignment, and
transfer of the Old Notes tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
 
PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING OLD NOTES
 
    VALID TENDER.   Except as  set forth  below, in order  for Old  Notes to  be
validly  tendered pursuant to the Exchange  Offer, a properly completed and duly
executed Letter  of  Transmittal  (or  facsimile  thereof),  with  any  required
signature  guarantees and any other required  documents, must be received by the
Exchange Agent at one of its addresses set forth under "-- Exchange Agent,"  and
either  (i) tendered Old Notes  must be received by  the Exchange Agent, or (ii)
such Old  Notes must  be  tendered pursuant  to  the procedures  for  book-entry
transfer  set forth below and a book-entry  confirmation must be received by the
Exchange Agent, in each case  on or prior to the  Expiration Date, or (iii)  the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below must be complied with.
 
    If  less than all of  the Old Notes are  tendered, a tendering holder should
fill in the amount  of Old Notes  being tendered in the  appropriate box on  the
Letter  of Transmittal. The entire amount of Old Notes delivered to the Exchange
Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.
 
    THE METHOD OF DELIVERY  OF CERTIFICATES, THE LETTER  OF TRANSMITTAL AND  ALL
OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE OPTION AND SOLE RISK OF THE TENDERING HOLDER,
AND  DELIVERY WILL BE  DEEMED MADE ONLY  WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED  BY THE EXCHANGE
AGENT. IF  DELIVERY  IS BY  MAIL,  REGISTERED MAIL,  RETURN  RECEIPT  REQUESTED,
PROPERLY INSURED, OR AN OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SERVICE IS RECOMMENDED. IN ALL CASES,
SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO INSURE TIMELY DELIVERY.
 
    BOOK-ENTRY  TRANSFER.   The Exchange  Agent will  establish an  account with
respect to the Old Notes  at DTC for purposes of  the Exchange Offer within  two
business  days after the date of this Prospectus. Any financial institution that
is a  participant  in DTC's  book-entry  transfer  facility system  may  make  a
book-entry  delivery of the Old Notes by  causing DTC to transfer such Old Notes
into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC in accordance with DTC's procedures for
transfers. However,  although delivery  of  Old Notes  may be  effected  through
book-entry  transfer into  the Exchange  Agent's account  at DTC,  the Letter of
Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), properly  completed and duly executed,  with
 
                                       21

any  required signature guarantees and any other required documents, must in any
case be delivered to and received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth
under "-- Exchange Agent" on or prior to the Expiration Date, or the  guaranteed
delivery procedure set forth below must be complied with.
 
    DELIVERY  OF DOCUMENTS TO  DTC IN ACCORDANCE WITH  DTC'S PROCEDURES DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.
 
    SIGNATURE GUARANTEES.  Certificates for the  Old Notes need not be  endorsed
and signature guarantees on the Letter of Transmittal are unnecessary unless (a)
a  certificate for the Old Notes is registered  in a name other than that of the
person surrendering the certificate or (b) such registered holder completes  the
box  entitled "Special Issuance Instructions" or "Special Delivery Instructions"
in the Letter of Transmittal. In the case of (a) or (b) above, such certificates
for Old Notes must be duly endorsed  or accompanied by a properly executed  bond
power,  with the endorsement or signature on the bond power and on the Letter of
Transmittal guaranteed by  a firm  or other  entity identified  in Rule  17Ad-15
under  the Exchange  Act as an  "eligible guarantor  institution," including (as
such terms are defined  therein): (i) a bank;  (ii) a broker, dealer,  municipal
securities  broker or dealer or government  securities broker or dealer; (iii) a
credit  union;  (iv)  a  national  securities  exchange,  registered  securities
association  or  clearing  agency;  or  (v)  a  savings  association  that  is a
participant in the Securities  Transfer Agents Medallion  Program, the New  York
Stock  Exchange,  Inc.  Medallion  Signature  Program  or  the  Stock  Exchanges
Medallion Program (an "Eligible Institution"),  unless surrendered on behalf  of
such Eligible Institution. See Instruction 1 to the Letter of Transmittal.
 
    GUARANTEED  DELIVERY.  If a  holder desires to tender  Old Notes pursuant to
the Exchange Offer and the certificates  for such Old Notes are not  immediately
available  or time will not permit all  required documents to reach the Exchange
Agent on  or  before the  Expiration  Date,  or the  procedures  for  book-entry
transfer  cannot be completed on a timely basis, such Old Notes may nevertheless
be tendered, provided that all  of the following guaranteed delivery  procedures
are complied with:
 
    (i) such tenders are made by or through an Eligible Institution;
 
    (ii) a  properly completed and duly  executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery,
         substantially in the  form accompanying the  Letter of Transmittal,  is
         received  by the Exchange Agent, as provided  below, on or prior to the
         Expiration Date; and
 
   (iii) the  certificates  (or  a  book-entry  confirmation)  representing  all
         tendered  Old  Notes,  in proper  form  for transfer,  together  with a
         properly  completed  and  duly  executed  Letter  of  Transmittal   (or
         facsimile  thereof),  with any  required  signature guarantees  and any
         other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, are received  by
         the  Exchange Agent within  three New York  Stock Exchange trading days
         after the date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
 
    The Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by hand or transmitted by
facsimile or mail  to the  Exchange Agent  and must  include a  guarantee by  an
Eligible Institution in the form set forth in such notice.
 
    Notwithstanding  any other  provision hereof, the  delivery of  New Notes in
exchange for  Old Notes  tendered  and accepted  for  exchange pursuant  to  the
Exchange  Offer  will in  all cases  be made  only after  timely receipt  by the
Exchange Agent of  Old Notes, or  of a book-entry  confirmation with respect  to
such Old Notes, and a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal
(or  facsimile thereof), together with any required signature guarantees and any
other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal. Accordingly, the delivery
of New Notes might not  be made to all tendering  holders at the same time,  and
will  depend upon when  Old Notes, book-entry confirmations  with respect to Old
Notes and other required documents are received by the Exchange Agent.
 
                                       22

    The Company's acceptance for exchange of Old Notes tendered pursuant to  any
of  the procedures described  above will constitute  a binding agreement between
the tendering  holder  and  the  Company  upon the  terms  and  subject  to  the
conditions of the Exchange Offer.
 
    DETERMINATION  OF  VALIDITY.   All questions  as to  the form  of documents,
validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for exchange of
any tendered  Old  Notes  will  be  determined  by  the  Company,  in  its  sole
discretion,  whose determination shall be final  and binding on all parties. The
Company reserves the  absolute right, in  its sole and  absolute discretion,  to
reject  any and all  tenders determined by  it not to  be in proper  form or the
acceptance of  which, or  exchange  for, may,  in the  view  of counsel  to  the
Company,  be unlawful. The Company also  reserves the absolute right, subject to
applicable law, to  waive any of  the conditions  of the Exchange  Offer as  set
forth  under "-- Certain Conditions  to the Exchange Offer"  or any condition or
irregularity in any tender of Old Notes of any particular holder whether or  not
similar conditions or irregularities are waived in the case of other holders.
 
    The  Company's interpretation  of the terms  and conditions  of the Exchange
Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the instructions thereto) will be
final and binding. No tender  of Old Notes will be  deemed to have been  validly
made  until all irregularities  with respect to  such tender have  been cured or
waived. Neither  the Company,  any affiliates  or assigns  of the  Company,  the
Exchange  Agent  nor  any other  person  shall be  under  any duty  to  give any
notification of any irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure
to give any such notification.
 
    If any Letter of Transmittal, endorsement, bond power, power of attorney, or
any other document required by the Letter of Transmittal is signed by a trustee,
executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or
other person acting in a fiduciary  or representative capacity (except when  New
Notes  are being issued to replace Old  Notes registered in the same name), such
person should so indicate when signing, and unless waived by the Company, proper
evidence satisfactory to the Company, in  its sole discretion, of such  person's
authority to so act must be submitted.
 
    A  beneficial owner of Old Notes that are  held by or registered in the name
of a  broker,  dealer,  commercial  bank, trust  company  or  other  nominee  or
custodian  is urged  to contact such  entity promptly if  such beneficial holder
wishes to participate in the Exchange Offer.
 
RESALES OF NEW NOTES
 
   
    The Company is making the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of  the
staff  of the Division of Corporation Finance  of the Commission as set forth in
the staff's Exxon  Capital Letter,  Morgan Stanley Letter,  Shearman &  Sterling
Letter  and  other  interpretive letters  addressed  to third  parties  in other
transactions. However, the Company  has not sought  its own interpretive  letter
and  there can  be no assurance  that the  staff of the  Division of Corporation
Finance of the Commission would make a similar determination with respect to the
Exchange Offer as it has in such interpretive letters to third parties. Based on
these interpretations by the staff of  the Division of Corporation Finance,  and
subject  to the two  immediately following sentences,  the Company believes that
New Notes issued pursuant to this Exchange  Offer in exchange for Old Notes  may
be  offered for  resale, resold  and otherwise  transferred by  a holder thereof
(other than a holder who is a broker-dealer) without further compliance with the
registration  and  prospectus  delivery  requirements  of  the  Securities  Act,
provided  that  such New  Notes  are acquired  in  the ordinary  course  of such
holder's business  and  that  such  holder is  not  participating,  and  has  no
arrangement  or understanding with any person  to participate, in a distribution
(within the  meaning of  the Securities  Act) of  such New  Notes. However,  any
holder  of Old  Notes who  is an "affiliate"  of the  Company or  who intends to
participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing New Notes,  or
any broker-dealer who purchased Old Notes from the Company to resell pursuant to
Rule  144A or any other  available exemption under the  Securities Act, (a) will
not be able  to rely  on the  interpretations of the  staff of  the Division  of
Corporation   Finance  of  the  Commission  set  forth  in  the  above-mentioned
interpretive letters, (b) will not be  permitted or entitled to tender such  Old
Notes  in  the Exchange  Offer and  (c)  must comply  with the  registration and
    
 
                                       23

prospectus delivery requirements of  the Securities Act  in connection with  any
sale or other transfer of such Old Notes unless such sale is made pursuant to an
exemption  from  such  requirements. In  addition,  as described  below,  if any
broker-dealer holds  Old Notes  acquired for  its  own account  as a  result  of
market-making  or other trading activities and  exchanges such Old Notes for New
Notes,  then  such   broker-dealer  must  deliver   a  prospectus  meeting   the
requirements  of the Securities Act  in connection with any  resales of such New
Notes.
 
    Each holder of Old Notes who wishes  to exchange Old Notes for New Notes  in
the  Exchange  Offer  will  be required  to  represent  that (i)  it  is  not an
"affiliate" of the Company, (ii)  any New Notes to be  received by it are  being
acquired  in the ordinary course of its business, (iii) it has no arrangement or
understanding with  any person  to  participate in  a distribution  (within  the
meaning of the Securities Act) of such New Notes, and (iv) if such holder is not
a  broker-dealer, such holder is  not engaged in, and  does not intend to engage
in, a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of such New Notes.
Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes  for its own account pursuant to  the
Exchange  Offer must  acknowledge that  it acquired  the Old  Notes for  its own
account as the result  of market-making activities  or other trading  activities
and must agree that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the
Securities  Act in connection with  any resale of such  New Notes. The Letter of
Transmittal states that by  so acknowledging and by  delivering a prospectus,  a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning  of the Securities Act. Based on the  position taken by the staff of the
Division of Corporation Finance  of the Commission  in the interpretive  letters
referred  to above,  the Company believes  that broker-dealers  who acquired Old
Notes for their own  accounts as a result  of market-making activities or  other
trading activities ("Participating Broker-Dealers") may fulfill their prospectus
delivery  requirements with respect  to the New Notes  received upon exchange of
such Old Notes (other  than Old Notes which  represent an unsold allotment  from
the  original sale of the Old Notes)  with a prospectus meeting the requirements
of the Securities  Act, which  may be the  prospectus prepared  for an  exchange
offer  so long  as it contains  a description  of the plan  of distribution with
respect to the resale of such New Notes. Accordingly, this Prospectus, as it may
be amended or supplemented  from time to  time, may be  used by a  Participating
Broker-Dealer  during the period referred to below in connection with resales of
New Notes received in exchange for Old Notes where such Old Notes were  acquired
by  such  Participating  Broker-Dealer  for  its  own  account  as  a  result of
market-making or other  trading activities.  Subject to  certain provisions  set
forth  in the  Registration Rights Agreement,  the Company has  agreed that this
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be  used
by  a Participating Broker-Dealer  in connection with resales  of such New Notes
for a period  ending 90  days after the  Expiration Date  (subject to  extension
under  certain limited circumstances  described below) or,  if earlier, when all
such New Notes have  been disposed of by  such Participating Broker-Dealer.  See
"Plan of Distribution." Any Participating Broker-Dealer who is an "affiliate" of
the  Company may not rely on such  interpretive letters and must comply with the
registration and  prospectus  delivery requirements  of  the Securities  Act  in
connection with any resale transaction.
 
    In  that regard, each  Participating Broker-Dealer who  surrenders Old Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer  will be deemed to  have agreed, by execution  of
the  Letter of Transmittal, that, upon receipt of notice from the Company of the
occurrence of any event or the discovery  of any fact which makes any  statement
contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus untrue in any material
respect  or  which causes  this  Prospectus to  omit  to state  a  material fact
necessary in order to make the statements contained or incorporated by reference
herein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading
or of  the occurrence  of certain  other events  specified in  the  Registration
Rights  Agreement, such Participating Broker-Dealer will suspend the sale of New
Notes pursuant to this Prospectus until the Company has amended or  supplemented
this  Prospectus  to correct  such misstatement  or  omission and  has furnished
copies  of  the  amended  or  supplemented  Prospectus  to  such   Participating
Broker-Dealer or the Company has given notice that the sale of the New Notes may
be  resumed, as the case may be. If the Company gives such notice to suspend the
sale of the  New Notes,  it shall  extend the  90-day period  referred to  above
during which Participating Broker-Dealers are entitled to use this Prospectus in
connection with the resale of New Notes by the
 
                                       24

number  of days during the  period from and including the  date of the giving of
such notice to and  including the date  when Participating Broker-Dealers  shall
have  received copies  of the  amended or  supplemented Prospectus  necessary to
permit resales  of the  New Notes  or to  and including  the date  on which  the
Company  has given notice that the sale of New Notes may be resumed, as the case
may be.
 
WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS
 
    Except as otherwise provided herein, tenders  of Old Notes may be  withdrawn
at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date.
 
    In  order for a withdrawal to be effective, a written, telegraphic, telex or
facsimile transmission of such notice of  withdrawal must be timely received  by
the  Exchange Agent at one  of its addresses set  forth below under "-- Exchange
Agent" on or prior to  the Expiration Date. Any  such notice of withdrawal  must
specify  the name of the person who tendered  the Old Notes to be withdrawn, the
aggregate principal amount of  Old Notes to be  withdrawn, and (if  certificates
for  such Old Notes have been tendered) the name of the registered holder of the
Old Notes as set forth  on the Old Notes, if  different from that of the  person
who  tendered such  Old Notes.  If Old  Notes have  been delivered  or otherwise
identified to the Exchange Agent, then prior to the physical release of such Old
Notes, the  tendering  holder  must  submit the  serial  numbers  shown  on  the
particular  Old  Notes  to be  withdrawn  and  the signature  on  the  notice of
withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution, except in the case  of
Old Notes tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. If Old Notes have
been  tendered pursuant to  the procedures for book-entry  transfer set forth in
"-- Procedures for Tendering Old Notes,"  the notice of withdrawal must  specify
the  name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawal of
Old Notes, in which case a notice  of withdrawal will be effective if  delivered
to  the Exchange Agent by written, telegraphic, telex or facsimile transmission.
Withdrawals of tenders  of Old Notes  may not be  rescinded. Old Notes  properly
withdrawn  will  not be  deemed validly  tendered for  purposes of  the Exchange
Offer, but  may  be  retendered at  any  subsequent  time on  or  prior  to  the
Expiration  Date by  following any of  the procedures described  above under "--
Procedures for Tendering Old Notes."
 
    All questions as to  the validity, form and  eligibility (including time  of
receipt)  of such withdrawal notices  will be determined by  the Company, in its
sole discretion, whose determination shall be final and binding on all  parties.
Neither  the Company,  any affiliates  or assigns  of the  Company, the Exchange
Agent nor any other person shall be  under any duty to give any notification  of
any  irregularities  in any  notice  of withdrawal  or  incur any  liability for
failure to give any  such notification. Any Old  Notes which have been  tendered
but  which are withdrawn on or prior to  the Expiration Date will be returned to
the holder thereof promptly after withdrawal.
 
INTEREST ON THE NEW NOTES
 
    Each New Note will bear  interest at the rate of  7 3/8% per annum from  the
most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for on the Old
Note  surrendered in exchange for such New Note or, if no interest has been paid
or duly provided for on such Old  Note, from February 29, 1996. Interest on  the
New  Notes will be payable semiannually on March 1 and September 1 of each year,
commencing on the first  such date following the  original issuance date of  the
New Notes.
 
    Holders  of Old  Notes whose  Old Notes are  accepted for  exchange will not
receive accrued interest on  such Old Notes  for any period  from and after  the
last  Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for
on such Old Notes prior to  the original issue date of  the New Notes or, if  no
such  interest has been paid or duly  provided for, will not receive any accrued
interest on such  Old Notes,  and will  be deemed to  have waived  the right  to
receive  any interest  on such  Old Notes accrued  from and  after such Interest
Payment Date or, if no  such interest has been paid  or duly provided for,  from
and after February 29, 1996.
 
CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
    Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Exchange Offer, or any extension
of  the Exchange Offer, the Company will not be required to accept for exchange,
or to exchange, any Old Notes for any
 
                                       25

New Notes, and, as described below, may terminate the Exchange Offer (whether or
not any Old Notes have theretofore been accepted for exchange) or may waive  any
conditions  to or amend the  Exchange Offer, if any  of the following conditions
have occurred or exists or have not been satisfied:
 
        (a) the  Exchange Offer,  or the  making of  any exchange  by a  holder,
    violates any applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of
    the Commission;
 
        (b) any action or proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened in
    any  court or by or  before any governmental agency  or body with respect to
    the Exchange Offer  which, in  the Company's judgment,  would reasonably  be
    expected  to impair the ability of the  Company to proceed with the Exchange
    Offer;
 
        (c) any law,  statute, rule  or regulation  shall have  been adopted  or
    enacted  which, in the  Company's judgment, would  reasonably be expected to
    impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange Offer;
 
        (d) a  banking moratorium  shall  have been  declared by  United  States
    federal  or California or New York state authorities which, in the Company's
    judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the  Company
    to proceed with the Exchange Offer;
 
        (e)  trading on the New  York Stock Exchange or  generally in the United
    States over-the-counter market  shall have  been suspended by  order of  the
    Commission  or  any other  governmental  authority which,  in  the Company's
    judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the  Company
    to proceed with the Exchange Offer; or
 
        (f)  a stop order shall have been  issued by the Commission or any state
    securities  authority  suspending  the  effectiveness  of  the  Registration
    Statement  or proceedings shall have been  initiated or, to the knowledge of
    the Company, threatened for that purpose.
 
    If the Company determines  in its sole and  absolute discretion that any  of
the  foregoing  events or  conditions has  occurred  or exists  or has  not been
satisfied, the Company may,  subject to applicable  law, terminate the  Exchange
Offer (whether or not any Old Notes have theretofore been accepted for exchange)
or  may waive any  such condition or  otherwise amend the  terms of the Exchange
Offer in any respect. If such waiver or amendment constitutes a material  change
to  the Exchange Offer, the Company will  promptly disclose such waiver by means
of a Prospectus supplement that will be distributed to the registered holders of
the Old Notes,  and the Company  will extend  the Exchange Offer  to the  extent
required by Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act.
 
                                       26

EXCHANGE AGENT
 
    State Street Bank and Trust Company has been appointed as Exchange Agent for
the  Exchange  Offer.  Delivery of  the  Letters  of Transmittal  and  any other
required  documents,  questions,  requests  for  assistance,  and  requests  for
additional  copies of this Prospectus or of  the Letter of Transmittal should be
directed to the Exchange Agent as follows:
 


                        BY MAIL:                                       BY OVERNIGHT DELIVERY OR HAND:
- --------------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------
                                                       
          State Street Bank and Trust Company                       State Street Bank and Trust Company
            2 International Place, 4th Floor                          2 International Place, 4th Floor
                    Boston, MA 02110                                          Boston, MA 02110
         Attention: Corporate Trust Department                     Attention: Corporate Trust Department
 (Solectron Corporation, 7 3/8% Senior Notes due 2006)     (Solectron Corporation, 7 3/8% Senior Notes due 2006)

 
                                       OR
 
                                 BY HAND ONLY:
 
                   State Street Bank and Trust Company, N.A.
                                  61 Broadway
                                Concourse Level
                             Corporate Trust Window
                               New York, NY 10006
             (Solectron Corporation, 7 3/8% Senior Notes due 2006)
 
                  TO CONFIRM BY TELEPHONE OR FOR INFORMATION:
 
                         (617) 664-5610 (Massachusetts)
 
                            FACSIMILE TRANSMISSIONS:
 
                         (617) 664-5635 (Massachusetts)
 
Delivery to other than one of the above addresses or facsimile numbers will not
constitute a valid delivery.
 
FEES AND EXPENSES
 
    The Company has agreed  to pay the Exchange  Agent reasonable and  customary
fees  for its  services and will  reimburse it for  its reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses in connection therewith. The Company will also pay brokerage houses and
other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by them in forwarding copies  of this Prospectus and related  documents
to  the beneficial owners of  Old Notes, and in  handling or tendering for their
customers.
 
    Holders who tender their Old Notes for exchange will not be obligated to pay
any transfer taxes  in connection therewith.  If, however, New  Notes are to  be
delivered  to, or are  to be issued  in the name  of, any person  other than the
registered holder of the Old Notes tendered, or if a transfer tax is imposed for
any reason other than the exchange of Old Notes in connection with the  Exchange
Offer,  then  the amount  of any  such  transfer taxes  (whether imposed  on the
registered holder or any other persons) will be payable by the tendering holder.
If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is  not
submitted with the Letter of Transmittal, the amount of such transfer taxes will
be billed directly to such tendering holder.
 
    The  Company  will  not  make  any payment  to  brokers,  dealers  or others
soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer.
 
                                       27

                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The selected data presented under  the captions "Consolidated Statements  of
Income" and "Consolidated Balance Sheet Data" for, and as of the end of, each of
the  years in the five  year period ended August 31,  1995, are derived from the
consolidated financial statements of  the Company audited  by KPMG Peat  Marwick
LLP, independent certified public accountants. The selected data presented below
for  the six  month periods ended  February 28,  1995 and February  29, 1996 are
derived from the  unaudited consolidated  financial statements  of the  Company.
These  results are not necessarily indicative of  results to be expected for any
future period.
 


                                                                                                     SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                           YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31,                   FEB. 28,    FEB. 29,
                                          -------------------------------------------------------  ---------------------
                                            1991       1992       1993        1994        1995       1995        1996
                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------
                                                         (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS AND PER SHARE DATA)
                                                                                         
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME:
Net sales...............................  $ 265,363  $ 406,883  $ 836,326  $1,456,779  $2,065,559  $ 977,944  $1,347,800
Cost of sales...........................    227,452    352,827    737,458   1,310,451   1,863,729    886,132   1,216,093
                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------
  Gross profit..........................     37,911     54,056     98,868     146,328     201,830     91,812     131,707
Selling, general and administrative.....     18,265     23,772     41,965      53,816      73,554     32,337      45,421
Research and development................      1,743      3,131      3,763       4,162       4,842      2,335       3,539
                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------
    Operating income....................     17,903     27,153     53,140      88,350     123,434     57,140      82,747
Interest income.........................        718      2,377      6,051       6,484       6,611      3,215       2,571
Interest expense........................     (2,179)    (5,386)   (10,578)    (10,675)     (9,551)    (5,465)     (1,990)
                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------
    Income before income taxes..........     16,442     24,144     48,613      84,159     120,494     54,890      83,328
Income tax expense......................      7,213      9,656     18,013      28,614      40,968     18,662      28,331
                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------
Net income..............................  $   9,229  $  14,488  $  30,600  $   55,545  $   79,526  $  36,228  $   54,997
                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------
                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ----------
Net income per share:
  Primary...............................  $    0.35  $    0.44  $    0.80  $     1.32  $     1.82  $    0.86  $     1.07
  Fully diluted.........................  $    0.35  $    0.44  $    0.75  $     1.18  $     1.62  $    0.76  $     1.03
Weighted average number of shares:
  Primary...............................     26,288     33,100     38,132      42,205      43,773     42,237      51,280
  Fully diluted.........................     26,632     33,228     47,816      52,033      52,582     51,786      53,730
Other Data:
  Ratios of earnings to fixed charges
   (1)..................................       3.68x      3.47x      4.01x       6.01x       8.73x      7.44x      17.66x(2)

 


                                                                     AUGUST 31,
                                                -----------------------------------------------------  FEBRUARY 29,
                                                  1991       1992       1993       1994       1995         1996
                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ------------
                                                                          (IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                                     
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital...............................  $  35,313  $ 199,254  $ 265,025  $ 309,203  $ 355,603   $  618,229
Total assets..................................    135,117    308,737    603,285    766,395    940,855    1,228,555
Long-term debt and capital lease
 obligations..................................     12,479    130,933    137,011    140,709     30,043      258,131
Shareholders' equity..........................     47,146    104,245    260,980    330,789    538,141      604,388

 
- ------------------------------
(1) The ratios of  earnings to fixed charges  were calculated by dividing  fixed
    charges  into the sum of income before income taxes and fixed charges. Fixed
    charges consist of interest and  the portion of rent  which is deemed to  be
    representative of an interest factor.
 
(2) The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the six months ended February 29,
    1996  includes  the  conversion  of  the  Company's  zero-coupon convertible
    subordinated notes due  2012 (principally  in the fourth  quarter of  fiscal
    year   1995),  but  excludes  the   Company's  issuance  of  6%  Convertible
    Subordinated Notes  due 2006  and 7  3/8  Senior Notes  due 2006,  Series  A
    completed in February 1996.
 
                                       28

                          DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW NOTES
 
GENERAL
 
    The  Old Notes  were issued  and the New  Notes are  to be  issued under the
Indenture, dated as of February 15, 1996 (the "Indenture"), between the  Company
and  State  Street  Bank and  Trust  Company,  as trustee  (the  "Trustee"). The
summaries of certain  provisions of  the Indenture, the  Old Notes  and the  New
Notes set forth below and under "Description of the Old Notes" do not purport to
be  complete and are subject to and are qualified in their entirety by reference
to all of  the provisions of  the Indenture, the  Old Notes and  the New  Notes,
which  provisions  of  the  Indenture,  the Old  Notes  and  the  New  Notes are
incorporated herein  by reference.  Certain capitalized  terms used  herein  are
defined  in the Indenture. A copy of the  Indenture has been filed as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement  of which this  Prospectus is a  part. As used  in
this  "Description of the New Notes," all references to the "Company" shall mean
Solectron Corporation, excluding,  unless the context  shall otherwise  require,
its subsidiaries.
 
    If  the  Exchange Offer  is consummated,  holders  of Old  Notes who  do not
exchange their Old Notes for  New Notes will vote  together with holders of  the
New  Notes for all  relevant purposes under  the Indenture. In  that regard, the
Indenture requires that  certain actions  by the  holders thereunder  (including
acceleration  following an Event  of Default) must be  taken, and certain rights
must be exercised, by specified  minimum percentages of the aggregate  principal
amount  of  such  outstanding  notes.  In  determining  whether  holders  of the
requisite percentage  in principal  amount  have given  any notice,  consent  or
waiver  or taken any other  action permitted under the  Indenture, any Old Notes
which remain outstanding after  the Exchange Offer will  be aggregated with  the
New Notes and the holders of such Old Notes and the New Notes will vote together
for   all  such  purposes.  Accordingly,  all  references  herein  to  specified
percentages in  aggregate principal  amount of  the outstanding  Notes shall  be
deemed  to  mean, at  any time  after  the Exchange  Offer is  consummated, such
percentages in aggregate  principal amount of  the Old Notes  and the New  Notes
then outstanding.
 
    The  New Notes and the Old Notes are sometimes referred to as, collectively,
the "Notes" and, individually, a "Note."
 
    The New  Notes  will be  unsecured  and unsubordinated  obligations  of  the
Company  and will be  limited to an aggregate  principal amount of $150,000,000.
The New Notes will bear interest at the  rate of 7 3/8% per annum from the  date
of  original issuance or  from the most  recent date to  which interest has been
paid or duly provided for on the  Old Note surrendered in exchange for such  New
Note,  or, if no interest has  been paid or duly provided  for on such Old Note,
from February 29, 1996, payable semiannually on March 1 and September 1 of  each
year  (each, an  "Interest Payment  Date"), commencing  with the  first Interest
Payment Date occurring after the date of original issuance of such New Note,  to
the  person in whose name such New Notes are registered at the close of business
on the  February 15  or August  15 next  preceding such  Interest Payment  Date.
Interest  on the New  Notes will be computed  on the basis of  a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months. The New Notes will mature on March 1, 2006. The New  Notes
may  not be redeemed  prior to maturity and  will not be  subject to any sinking
fund. The interest rate on the Notes  is subject to a single permanent  increase
of  0.25%  depending upon  the  Initial Rating  (as  defined). See  "-- Interest
Adjustment" below.
 
    The New Notes will  not provide for any  temporary increase in the  interest
rate  thereon pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement in certain events as
described under  "Description  of  the  Old Notes."  For  a  discussion  of  the
circumstances  in which the  interest rate on  the Old Notes  may be temporarily
increased, see "Description of the Old Notes."
 
INTEREST ADJUSTMENT
 
    The interest rate  of 7  3/8% per  annum borne  by the  Notes (the  "Initial
Rate")  is subject to  a single permanent  increase of 0.25%  depending upon the
Initial Rating.  "Initial Rating"  means the  rating initially  assigned to  the
Notes  by the  NAIC. The  Company has  agreed to  use its  reasonable efforts to
assist in the process of obtaining the Initial Rating from the NAIC as  promptly
as  practicable. The Initial Rate will  be increased (the "Interest Adjustment")
by 0.25% (such increased interest rate the
 
                                       29

"Adjusted Rate") if  either (a) the  Initial Rating  is below NAIC-2  or (b)  no
Initial  Rating  has  been assigned  to  the  Notes by  September  1,  1996. The
effective date of  the Interest Adjustment,  if any,  will be (i)  in the  event
described  in  clause (a)  above,  either (x)  the  date the  Initial  Rating is
publicly announced or notice thereof is received  by the Company or (y) if  such
public  announcement  or notice  occurs between  a record  date and  an interest
payment date,  such interest  payment date  or (ii)  in the  event described  in
clause  (b) above, September 1, 1996 (each  of the dates described in clause (i)
and (ii) an  "Interest Adjustment  Date"). If the  Initial Rating  is NAIC-2  or
better,  there will  not be any  Interest Adjustment,  whether as a  result of a
change in the NAIC rating assigned to the Notes subsequent to the  determination
of  the Initial Rating  or of any other  event. There will not  be more than one
Interest Adjustment under any circumstances.
 
    Starting on and after  the Interest Adjustment Date,  if any, the Old  Notes
and  the New  Notes will  bear interest  at the  Adjusted Rate.  If the Interest
Adjustment occurs during an interest payment  period, the Old Notes and the  New
Notes  will bear interest for  such interest payment period  at a rate per annum
equal to  the  weighted average  of  the Initial  Rate  and the  Adjusted  Rate,
calculated  by multiplying the Initial Rate or the Adjusted Rate, as applicable,
by the number of days such interest rate is in effect during each month of  such
interest payment period, determining the sum of such products, and dividing such
sum  by the  number of  days in such  interest payment  period. All calculations
pursuant to the preceding sentence will be  made on the basis of a 360-day  year
consisting of twelve 30-day months.
 
FORM, DENOMINATION AND REGISTRATION
 
    The New Notes will be issued only in fully registered form, without coupons,
in  denominations  of  $1,000 and  any  integral  multiple of  $1,000  in excess
thereof.
 
    Principal of and interest on  the New Notes will  be payable, and New  Notes
may  be registered for transfer or exchange,  at the office or agency maintained
by the Company for that purpose in  New York City, provided that, at the  option
of  the Company, interest  may be paid  by check mailed  to the persons entitled
thereto, and  provided further  that a  holder of  New Notes  with an  aggregate
principal  amount  equal to  or in  excess of  $5,000,000 will  be paid  by wire
transfer in  immediately available  funds at  the election  of such  holder.  No
service  charge may  be made  to a  holder for  any registration  of transfer or
exchange of  the  New Notes,  but  the Company  may  require payment  of  a  sum
sufficient  to cover any tax or  other governmental charge payable in connection
therewith.
 
    In case any  New Note shall  become mutilated, defaced,  destroyed, lost  or
stolen,  the Company will  execute and, upon the  Company's request, the Trustee
will authenticate and  deliver a  New Note, of  like tenor  and equal  principal
amount  in  exchange and  substitution  for such  New  Note (upon  surrender and
cancellation thereof) or in lieu of and substitution for such New Note. In  case
such  New Note is destroyed, lost or stolen, the applicant for a substituted New
Note shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity  as
may  be required by  them to hold each  of them harmless, and,  in every case of
destruction, loss or theft of such New Note, the applicant shall also furnish to
the Company or  the Trustee satisfactory  evidence of the  destruction, loss  or
theft  of such New Note  and of the ownership thereof.  Upon the issuance of any
substituted New Note,  the Company  may require  the payment  by the  registered
holder  thereof  of  a  sum  sufficient to  cover  fees  and  expenses connected
therewith.
 
RANKING; HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE
 
    The Old  Notes are,  and the  New Notes  will be,  unsecured  unsubordinated
obligations  of the Company and  will rank on a parity  in right of payment with
all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company.
 
    The Old Notes are, and the New Notes will be, obligations exclusively of the
Company.  The  Company  is  a   holding  company  substantially  all  of   whose
consolidated  assets are held by its subsidiaries. Accordingly, the cash flow of
the Company and the  consequent ability to service  its debt, including the  Old
Notes and the New Notes, are dependent upon the earnings of such subsidiaries.
 
    Because  the Company  is a holding  company, the  Old Notes are  and the New
Notes will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future  indebtedness,
trade payables, guarantees, lease
 
                                       30

obligations, letter of credit obligations and other obligations of the Company's
subsidiaries.  Therefore, the Company's rights and  the rights of its creditors,
including the  holders  of  the Notes,  to  participate  in the  assets  of  any
subsidiary  upon the latter's  liquidation or reorganization  will be subject to
the prior claims of such subsidiary's  creditors, except to the extent that  the
Company  may itself be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary,
in which case the claims of  the Company would still be effectively  subordinate
to  any security interest in, or mortgages or other liens on, the assets of such
subsidiary and  would be  subordinate  to any  indebtedness of  such  subsidiary
senior  to that  held by  the Company.  As of  February 29,  1996, the Company's
subsidiaries had  approximately $375  million  of outstanding  indebtedness  and
other  obligations  (excluding  inter-company payables).  Although  certain debt
instruments to  which  the  Company  and its  subsidiaries  are  parties  impose
limitations  on the incurrence of additional  indebtedness, both the Company and
its subsidiaries retain the ability to incur substantial additional indebtedness
and lease and letter of credit obligations.
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
 
    The Indenture does not limit the amount of indebtedness or lease obligations
that may be incurred by the Company and its subsidiaries. The Indenture does not
contain provisions which would  give holders of the  Notes the right to  require
the  Company to repurchase their  Notes in the event of  a decline in the credit
rating  of   the  Company's   debt  securities   resulting  from   a   takeover,
recapitalization  or similar restructuring. The  covenants described below would
not necessarily afford the holders protection in the event of a highly leveraged
transaction involving the Company, such as a leveraged buyout.
 
    LIMITATION ON LIENS.  In the Indenture, the Company covenants that, so  long
as any Notes remain outstanding, it will not, and will not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary  to, issue, incur, create, assume  or guarantee any debt for borrowed
money secured by a  mortgage, security interest, pledge,  lien, charge or  other
encumbrance ("mortgage") upon any Principal Property or upon any shares of stock
or  indebtedness for borrowed money  or evidenced by a  bond, note, debenture or
similar instrument  of any  Restricted  Subsidiary owned  by  the Company  or  a
Restricted  Subsidiary (whether such Principal  Property, shares or indebtedness
are now existing or owed or hereafter  created or acquired) without in any  such
case effectively providing concurrently with the issuance, incurrence, creation,
assumption  or guaranty of any such secured debt, or the grant of such mortgage,
that the Notes  (together with,  if the Company  shall so  determine, any  other
indebtedness  of  or  guarantee by  the  Company or  such  Restricted Subsidiary
ranking equally with the Notes) shall  be secured equally and ratably with  (or,
at  the  option of  the  Company, prior  to)  such secured  debt.  The foregoing
restriction, however, will not  apply to: (a) mortgages  on property, shares  of
stock  or indebtedness or other  assets of any corporation  existing at the time
such corporation becomes a Restricted  Subsidiary, provided that such  mortgages
or  liens  are  not incurred  in  anticipation  of such  corporation  becoming a
Restricted  Subsidiary;  (b)   mortgages  on  property,   shares  of  stock   or
indebtedness  or other assets existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (which may include property previously leased
by the  Company or  a  Restricted Subsidiary  and leasehold  interests  thereon,
provided  that  the  lease terminates  prior  to the  acquisition)  or mortgages
thereon to secure the payment of all or any part of the purchase price  thereof,
or  mortgages on property,  shares of stock  or indebtedness or  other assets to
secure any debt incurred prior to, at the time of, or within 180 days after, the
latest of the acquisition thereof or, in the case of property, the completion of
construction, the completion of improvements or the commencement of  substantial
commercial  operation of such property  for the purpose of  financing all or any
part of the  purchase price  thereof, such construction  or the  making of  such
improvements;  (c) mortgages to secure indebtedness owing to the Company or to a
Restricted Subsidiary;  (d)  mortgages existing  at  the date  of  the  original
issuance of the Old Notes; (e) mortgages on property of a Person existing at the
time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary  or  at  the  time of  a  sale,  lease or  other  disposition  of the
properties of a Person  as an entirety  or substantially as  an entirety to  the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such mortgage was not incurred
in  anticipation  of  such  merger  or consolidation  or  sale,  lease  or other
disposition; (f)  mortgages in  favor of  the United  States of  America or  any
state,  territory or  possession thereof (or  the District of  Columbia), or any
department, agency,  instrumentality  or  political subdivision  of  the  United
States   of  America  or   any  state,  territory   or  possession  thereof  (or
 
                                       31

the District  of  Columbia),  to  secure partial,  progress,  advance  or  other
payments  pursuant  to any  contract or  statute or  to secure  any indebtedness
incurred for the purpose of financing all  or any part of the purchase price  or
the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to such mortgages; or
(g)  extensions, renewals  or replacements  of any  mortgage referred  to in the
foregoing clauses (a) through (f) (including successive extensions, renewals and
replacements); provided,  however,  that  mortgages  permitted  by  any  of  the
foregoing  clauses  (a) through  (f)  shall not  extend  to or  cover  any other
Principal Property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any shares  of
stock  or  indebtedness  of  any  such  Restricted  Subsidiary,  other  than the
property, including  improvements thereto,  stock or  indebtedness specified  in
such clauses.
 
    Notwithstanding  the restrictions  outlined in the  preceding paragraph, the
Company or  any  Restricted  Subsidiary  may issue,  incur,  create,  assume  or
guarantee  debt secured by a  mortgage which would otherwise  be subject to such
restrictions, without  equally and  ratably securing  the Notes,  provided  that
after  giving effect thereto, the aggregate  amount of all debt then outstanding
so secured by mortgages (not including mortgages permitted under any of  clauses
(a)  through (g) above) plus  Attributable Debt (as defined)  of the Company and
Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of  Sale and Lease-Back Transactions  entered
into  after the date of original issuance of  the Old Notes (other than any Sale
and Lease-Back  Transaction  permitted  under clause  (b)  of  the  restrictions
described  below under "-- Limitations on  Sale and Lease-Back Transactions" and
other than any  Sale and Lease-Back  Transaction with respect  to any  Principal
Property as to which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to
incur  indebtedness secured  by a mortgage  on such Principal  Property at least
equal in  amount  to  the  Attributable  Debt with  respect  to  such  Sale  and
Lease-Back  Transaction under any of clauses (a)  through (g) above) does not at
the time such debt is issued, incurred, created, assumed or guaranteed exceed an
amount equal to 10% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company.
 
    LIMITATIONS ON  SALE AND  LEASE-BACK TRANSACTIONS.   In  the Indenture,  the
Company  covenants that, so long as any of the Notes remain outstanding, it will
not, nor will it permit  any Restricted Subsidiary to,  enter into any Sale  and
Lease-Back  Transaction with respect to any  Principal Property, unless: (a) the
Company or such Restricted  Subsidiary would be  entitled to incur  indebtedness
secured  by a mortgage on the Principal Property involved in such transaction at
least equal in amount  to the Attributable  Debt with respect  to such Sale  and
Lease-Back Transaction, without equally and ratably securing the Notes, pursuant
to  the limitation on liens  described above; or (b)  the Company shall apply an
amount equal to the greater  of the net proceeds of  such sale, the fair  market
value  of such property at the time of such sale (as determined in good faith by
the Company) or the Attributable Debt  with respect to such Sale and  Lease-Back
Transaction within 180 days of such sale to either (or a combination of) (i) the
retirement (other than any mandatory retirement, mandatory prepayment or sinking
fund  payment  or by  payment at  maturity) of  debt for  borrowed money  of the
Company or a Restricted  Subsidiary that has a  scheduled maturity more than  12
months  after its  creation or (ii)  the purchase,  construction, improvement or
development of other comparable property.
 
    DEFINITION OF CERTAIN TERMS.  "Attributable Debt" with regard to a Sale  and
Lease-Back  Transaction with respect to any property is defined in the Indenture
to mean, at the time of determination, the lesser of: (a) the fair market  value
of  such property (as determined in good faith  by the Board of Directors of the
Company); or (b) the present value of  the total net amount of rent required  to
be paid under such lease during the remaining term thereof (including any period
for  which such lease has been extended), discounted at the rate of interest set
forth or  implicit  in the  terms  of such  lease  (or, if  not  practicable  to
determine  such rate, the rate of interest  borne by the Notes) compounded semi-
annually. In the case of  any lease which is terminable  by the lessee upon  the
payment  of a  penalty, such net  amount shall be  the lesser of  the net amount
determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated
(in which case the net amount shall also include the amount of the penalty,  but
no  rent shall be considered as required  to be paid under such lease subsequent
to the  first date  upon  which it  may  be so  terminated)  or the  net  amount
determined assuming no such termination.
 
                                       32

    "Consolidated  Net Tangible Assets" is defined  in the Indenture to mean, as
of any particular time, the aggregate amount of assets (less applicable reserves
and other properly deductible items) after deducting therefrom: (a) all  current
liabilities  (excluding  any  thereof which  are  by their  terms  extendible or
renewable at the option  of the obligor  thereon to a time  more than 12  months
after  the time as of  which the amount thereof  is being computed), and current
maturities of debt that has a scheduled  maturity more than 12 months after  the
date  of its creation and of obligations under capital leases; (b) all goodwill,
trade names,  trademarks, patents,  unamortized debt  discount and  expense  and
other  like intangibles (other than  capitalized unamortized product development
costs,  such  as,   without  limitation,  capitalized   hardware  and   software
development  costs), to the extent included  in said aggregate amount of assets;
and (c)  appropriate  adjustments on  account  of minority  interests  of  other
Persons  holding stock of  the Company's Subsidiaries,  all as set  forth on the
most recent consolidated balance sheet of  the Company and its subsidiaries  and
computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
    "Principal  Property"  is  defined  in  the  Indenture  to  mean  the  land,
improvements, buildings  and  fixtures  (to  the  extent  they  constitute  real
property  interests) (including any leasehold interest therein) constituting the
principal corporate  office  of the  Company,  any manufacturing  plant  or  any
manufacturing  facility (whether now  owned or hereafter  acquired) which is (a)
owned or leased by the Company or  any Subsidiary, (b) is located within any  of
the  present  50 states  of the  United States  of America  (or the  District of
Columbia), (c) has not been determined in  good faith by the Board of  Directors
of the Company not to be of material importance to the business conducted by the
Company  and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole  and (d) has a book value on the
date of which the determination is being made of in excess of 1% of Consolidated
Net Tangible Assets of the  Company as most recently  determined on or prior  to
such  date (including for  purposes of such  calculation the land, improvements,
buildings and such fixtures  comprising such office, plant  or facility, as  the
case may be).
 
    "Restricted  Subsidiary" is defined in the  Indenture to mean any Subsidiary
which owns any Principal Property; provided, however, that the term  "Restricted
Subsidiary"  shall  not include  any Subsidiary  which  is engaged  primarily in
financing receivables or  which is  otherwise engaged primarily  in the  finance
business  including, without limitation thereto, financing the operations of, or
the purchase of products which are  products of or incorporate products of,  the
Company  and/or its Subsidiaries;  provided, further, that  the term "Restricted
Subsidiary" shall not include any Subsidiary  less than 80% of the voting  stock
of  which is  owned, directly or  indirectly, by the  Company or by  one or more
other Subsidiaries  if the  common stock  of such  Subsidiary is  traded on  any
national securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market or over the
counter.
 
    "Sale  and Lease-Back Transaction"  is defined in the  Indenture to mean any
arrangement with any  Person providing  for the leasing  by the  Company or  any
Restricted Subsidiary of any Principal Property which property has been or is to
be  sold or  transferred by  the Company or  such Restricted  Subsidiary to such
Person, other than any such transaction involving a lease for a term of not more
than three years or  any such transaction between  the Company and a  Restricted
Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries.
 
    "Subsidiary"  is defined  in the  Indenture to  mean (i)  any corporation of
which more than 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock is at the time, and (ii)
any partnership of  which more  than 66  2/3% of  the equity  capital or  profit
interest  is at the time, owned, directly  or indirectly, by the Company, by one
or more other Subsidiaries or by the  Company and one or more Subsidiaries.  For
the purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means stock which ordinarily has
voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long
as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
    Events of Default under the Indenture include: (a) default in the payment of
the  principal of the  Notes; (b) default  in the payment  of any installment of
interest on such Notes and continuance of such default for a period of 30  days;
(c)  default  in  the  performance  of  any  other  covenant  in  the  Indenture
 
                                       33

and continuance of such  default for a  period of 90 days  after receipt by  the
Company of notice of such default from the Trustee or receipt by the Company and
the  Trustee of  notice of  such default  from the  holders of  at least  25% in
principal amount of Notes  then outstanding; (d)  acceleration or nonpayment  at
maturity  of (i)  indebtedness for  borrowed money  of the  Company or  (ii) any
guarantee of payment by the Company of any obligation of any Person for borrowed
money,  in  either  case  in  excess  of  $25  million,  which  acceleration  or
non-payment is not cured, waived, rescinded or annulled, or such indebtedness or
guarantee  is not discharged, within 30 days after receipt of comparable written
notice; or (e)  certain events  of bankruptcy, insolvency  or reorganization  in
respect  of the Company. The Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of Notes
of any default (except in the payment of principal of or interest on such Notes)
if it considers such withholding to be in the interest of holders of the Notes.
 
    The Indenture provides  that, if any  Event of Default  with respect to  the
Notes  at the time outstanding  occurs and is continuing,  either the Trustee or
the holders of not less  than 25% in principal  amount of the outstanding  Notes
may, by notice as provided in the Indenture, declare the principal amount of all
the  Notes to be due  and payable immediately, but  upon certain conditions such
declaration may  be rescinded  and annulled  and past  defaults (except,  unless
theretofore cured, a default in payment of principal of or interest on the Notes
and certain other specified defaults) and be waived by the holders of a majority
in principal amount of the outstanding Notes on behalf of the holders of all the
Notes.
 
    The  Indenture provides that  no holder of  any Note will  have any right to
institute any  proceeding  with respect  to  the  Indenture or  for  any  remedy
thereunder unless such holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written
notice  of a continuing Event of Default and  unless the holders of at least 25%
in principal  amount of  the outstanding  Notes have  made written  request  and
offered  reasonable indemnity  to the  Trustee to  institute such  proceeding as
Trustee, the  Trustee  has  not received  from  the  holders of  a  majority  in
principal  amount of  the outstanding Notes  a direction  inconsistent with such
request and the Trustee has failed to institute such proceeding within 60  days.
However,  the holder of any Note will  have an absolute right to receive payment
of the principal of and  interest on such Note on  or after the stated  maturity
therein and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment.
 
    The  Indenture  provides that  the Trustee  will, within  90 days  after the
occurrence of a default with respect to the Notes at the time outstanding,  give
to  the holders of the  outstanding Notes notice of such  default known to it if
uncured or not  waived, provided  that, except  in the  case of  default in  the
payment  of principal of or interest on  any Note, the Trustee will be protected
in withholding such  notice if  the Trustee in  good faith  determines that  the
withholding  of such notice is in the interest of the holders of the outstanding
Notes; and, provided further, that such notice  will not be given until 90  days
after  the occurrence  of a  default with  respect to  outstanding Notes  in the
performance of a covenant  in the Indenture  other than for  the payment of  the
principal of or interest on any Note. The term default with respect to the Notes
for  the purpose only of this provision means the happening of any of the Events
of  Default  specified  in  the  Indenture  excluding  any  grace  periods   and
irrespective of any notice requirements.
 
    The  Indenture contains  a provision entitling  the Trustee,  subject to the
duty of the Trustee during default to act with the required standard of care, to
be indemnified by the holders of outstanding Notes before proceeding to exercise
any right or  power under the  Indenture at the  request of the  holders of  the
Notes. The Indenture provides that the holders of a majority in principal amount
of  outstanding Notes may  direct the time,  method and place  of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to  the Trustee, or exercising any trust  or
other  power conferred on the Trustee, provided  that the Trustee may decline to
act if such direction is contrary to law or the Indenture.
 
    The Indenture includes a covenant that  the Company will file annually  with
the Trustee a certificate of no default, or specifying any default that exists.
 
                                       34

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS
 
    The  Company may  not consolidate  with or  merge into  any other  Person or
convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets as an entity to
any other person, unless,  among other things, (i)  the resulting, surviving  or
transferee  person (if other  than the Company) is  organized and existing under
the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and
such person expressly assumes all obligations of the Company under the Notes and
the  Indenture  and  (ii)  the  Company  or  such  successor  Person  shall  not
immediately thereafter be in default under the Indenture. Upon the assumption of
the  Company's obligations  by such a  person in such  circumstances, subject to
certain exceptions,  the Company  will be  discharged from  all its  obligations
under the Notes and the Indenture.
 
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE
 
    The  Indenture contains provisions  permitting the Company  and the Trustee,
with the  consent of  the  holders of  a majority  in  principal amount  of  the
outstanding  Notes, to modify the  rights of the holders  of the Notes under the
Indenture or any supplemental indenture or the terms of the Notes, provided that
no such modification shall, among other  things, (i) change the stated  maturity
of  any Notes  or reduce  the principal  amount thereof,  or reduce  the rate or
change the time of payment  of interest thereon, or  change any place where,  or
the  currency in which, any  Notes are payable, or  impair the holder's right to
enforce the payment  of any Notes,  or (ii) reduce  the aforesaid percentage  of
Notes,   the  consent  of  the  holders  of  which  is  required  for  any  such
modification; without in each such case  obtaining the consent of the holder  of
each  outstanding  Note  so  affected. The  Indenture  also  contains provisions
permitting the Company and  the Trustee, without the  consent of the holders  of
any  Notes, to modify the  Indenture or any supplemental  indenture in order to,
among other things, (a)  add to the  Events of Default or  the covenants of  the
Company  for the benefit of  the holders of Notes, or  (b) cure any ambiguity or
correct or supplement any provision therein which may be inconsistent with other
provisions therein, or to make any  other provisions with respect to matters  or
questions  arising under  the Indenture,  provided that  such actions  shall not
adversely affect  the interests  of the  holders of  the Notes  in any  material
respect.
 
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
 
    The  Indenture provides that the Company may elect either (A) to defease and
be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the Notes (except for
the obligations to register  the transfer or exchange  of the Notes, to  replace
temporary  or mutilated, destroyed, lost or  stolen Notes, to maintain an office
or agency in  respect of  the Notes  and to hold  moneys for  payment in  trust)
("defeasance"),  or (B) to be released from  its obligations with respect to the
Notes described above  under "--  Certain Covenants of  the Company"  ("covenant
defeasance"), upon the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee (or other qualifying
trustee),  in  trust  for  such  purpose,  of  money,  and/or  U.  S. Government
Obligations (as defined) which through the payment of principal and interest  in
accordance  with their terms will provide money,  in an amount sufficient to pay
the principal of and interest  on the Notes on  the due dates therefor,  whether
upon maturity or otherwise. Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall only be
effective  if,  among other  things,  (i) it  shall not  result  in a  breach or
violation of,  or  constitute  a  default under,  the  Indenture  or  any  other
agreement  to which the  Company or any  Restricted Subsidiary is  a party or is
bound, and (ii) the Company has delivered  to the Trustee an opinion of  counsel
(as specified in the Indenture) to the effect that the holders of the Notes will
not  recognize income, gain or loss for  federal income tax purposes as a result
of such defeasance  or covenant  defeasance, as  the case  may be,  and will  be
subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the
same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance
had  not occurred.  It shall also  be a  condition to the  effectiveness of such
defeasance (but not covenant defeasance) that no Event of Default or event which
with notice or  lapse of  time or  both would become  an Event  of Default  with
respect  to the Notes shall have occurred and been continuing on the date of, or
during the period ending on  the 91st day after the  date of, such deposit  into
trust.
 
                                       35

GOVERNING LAW
 
    The Indenture and the Old Notes are, and the New Notes will be, governed by,
and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
 
REGARDING THE TRUSTEE
 
    The  Trust Indenture Act of  1939 contains limitations on  the rights of the
Trustee, should it become a creditor of the Company, to obtain payment of claims
in certain cases or to realize on certain property received by it in respect  of
any such claims, as security or otherwise. The Trustee is permitted to engage in
other  transactions with  the Company  and its  subsidiaries from  time to time,
provided that if the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate
such conflict upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, or else resign.
 
    State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trustee under the Indenture, is the
trustee under the indenture for the Company's 6% Convertible Subordinated  Notes
due 2006, as well as the paying agent, conversion agent, registrar and custodian
with regard to such notes. An affiliate of the Trustee, Boston Equiserve Limited
Partnership,  is the transfer agent for  the Company's common stock. The Trustee
or its affiliates may from time to time in the future provide banking and  other
services to the Company in the ordinary course of its business.
 
                          DESCRIPTION OF THE OLD NOTES
 
    The terms of the Old Notes are identical in all material respects to the New
Notes,  except  that  (i) the  Old  Notes  have not  been  registered  under the
Securities Act, are subject to certain restrictions on transfer and are entitled
to certain registration  rights under the  Registration Rights Agreement  (which
rights  will terminate  upon consummation of  the Exchange Offer,  except to the
extent that the Initial  Purchasers may have  certain registration rights  under
limited  circumstances) and (ii)  the Old Notes  provide for an  increase in the
interest rate thereon  pursuant to  the Registration Rights  Agreement. In  that
regard,  the Old Notes provide that, in the event that the Exchange Offer is not
consummated  or  a  shelf   registration  statement  (the  "Shelf   Registration
Statement")  with  respect  to the  resale  of  the Old  Notes  is  not declared
effective on or prior  to August 27,  1996, the interest rate  on the Old  Notes
will  increase by 0.50% per annum  following August 27, 1996; provided, however,
that if the Company requests holders of Old Notes to provide certain information
called for by the Registration Rights Agreement for inclusion in any such  Shelf
Registration  Statement, then Old Notes owned by holders who do not deliver such
information to  the  Company  or  who  do not  provide  comments  on  the  Shelf
Registration  Statement  when  required  pursuant  to  the  Registration  Rights
Agreement will  not  be entitled  to  any such  increase  in the  interest  rate
pursuant  to the  Registration Rights  Agreement. Upon  the consummation  of the
Exchange Offer or the  effectiveness of a Shelf  Registration Statement, as  the
case  may be, after  August 27, 1996, the  interest rate on  any Old Notes which
remain outstanding  will be  reduced,  from the  date  of such  consummation  or
effectiveness,  as the case may be,  to 7 3/8% per annum  and the Old Notes will
not thereafter be entitled to any increase in the interest rate thereon pursuant
to the Registration Rights Agreement. The New Notes are not entitled to any such
increase in the interest rate thereon (other than any increase in interest  rate
resulting  from  the Initial  Rating). Holders  of Old  Notes should  review the
information set forth  under "Summary --  Certain Consequences of  a Failure  to
Exchange Old Notes" and "Description of the New Notes."
 
            CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
 
    The  following summary  describes certain  United States  Federal income tax
considerations to holders of the  New Notes who are  subject to U.S. net  income
tax  with respect to  the New Notes ("U.S.  persons") and who  will hold the New
Notes as  capital assets.  There can  be  no assurance  that the  U.S.  Internal
Revenue  Service (the "IRS") will take a similar view of the purchase, ownership
or disposition of the New Notes. This discussion is based upon the provisions of
the Internal Revenue  Code of  1986, as  amended, and  regulations, rulings  and
judicial  decisions now in effect,  all of which are  subject to change. It does
not include any  description of  the tax  laws of  any state,  local or  foreign
governments
 
                                       36

or any estate or gift tax considerations that may be applicable to the New Notes
or  holders thereof,  it does  not discuss  all aspects  of U.S.  Federal income
taxation that  may  be  relevant  to  a particular  investor  in  light  of  his
particular  investment circumstances or to certain types of investors subject to
special treatment under the U.S. Federal  income tax laws (for example,  dealers
in   securities  or  currencies,  S   corporations,  life  insurance  companies,
tax-exempt organizations, taxpayers subject to  the alternative minimum tax  and
non-U.S. persons) and also does not discuss the treatment of New Notes held as a
hedge  against currency risks or as part of a straddle with other investments or
as part of a  "synthetic security" or other  integrated investment (including  a
"conversion  transaction")  comprised  of  a  New Note  and  one  or  more other
investments, or situations in  which the functional currency  of the holders  is
not the U.S. dollar.
 
    Holders  of Old Notes contemplating acceptance  of the Exchange Offer should
consult their own tax  advisors with respect  to their particular  circumstances
and  with respect to  the effects of state,  local or foreign  tax laws to which
they may be subject.
 
EXCHANGE OF NOTES
 
    The exchange of Old  Notes for New  Notes should not be  a taxable event  to
holders  for federal income tax purposes. The  exchange of Old Notes for the New
Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer should not be treated as an "exchange"  for
federal  income tax purposes because  the New Notes should  not be considered to
differ materially  in  kind or  extent  from the  Old  Notes. If,  however,  the
exchange  of the  Old Notes for  the New Notes  were treated as  an exchange for
federal income tax purposes, such exchange should constitute a  recapitalization
for  federal income  tax purposes.  Accordingly, a  holder should  have the same
adjusted basis and holding period  in the New Notes as  it had in the Old  Notes
immediately before the exchange.
 
INTEREST ON THE NEW NOTES
 
    A  holder of  a New  Note will  be required  to report  as ordinary interest
income for U.S. Federal income tax purposes  interest earned on the New Note  in
accordance with the holder's method of tax accounting.
 
DISPOSITION OF NEW NOTES
 
    A  holder's tax basis for a New Note generally will be the holder's purchase
price for the Old Note. Upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other
disposition of a New  Note, a holder  will recognize gain or  loss equal to  the
difference  (if any) between the  amount realized and the  holder's tax basis in
the New Note. Such gain  or loss will be long-term  capital gain or loss if  the
New  Note has been held for more than  one year and otherwise will be short-term
capital gain or loss (with certain exceptions to the characterization as capital
gain if the New Note was acquired at a market discount).
 
BACKUP WITHHOLDING
 
    A holder of a New Note may be  subject to backup withholding at the rate  of
31%  with respect to interest  paid on the New Note  and proceeds from the sale,
exchange, redemption or retirement of the New Note, unless such holder (a) is  a
corporation  or comes within certain other exempt categories and, when required,
demonstrates that fact or (b) provides a correct taxpayer identification number,
certifies as  to no  loss of  exemption from  backup withholding  and  otherwise
complies  with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A holder
of a  New Note  who  does not  provide the  Company  with his  correct  taxpayer
identification number may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS.
 
    A  holder of a  New Note who is  not a U.S. person  will generally be exempt
from backup  withholding  and information  reporting  requirements, but  may  be
required  to comply with certification and identification procedures in order to
obtain an exemption from backup withholding and information reporting.
 
    Any amount  paid  as  backup  withholding will  be  creditable  against  the
holder's U.S. Federal income tax liability.
 
                                       37

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
    Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account in connection
with  the Exchange Offer must  acknowledge that it will  deliver a prospectus in
connection with any  resale of such  New Notes.  This Prospectus, as  it may  be
amended  or  supplemented  from  time  to time,  may  be  used  by Participating
Broker-Dealers during the period referred to below in connection with resales of
New Notes received in exchange for Old Notes if such Old Notes were acquired  by
such  Participating  Broker-Dealers  for  their  own  accounts  as  a  result of
market-making activities or  other trading  activities. The  Company has  agreed
that  this Prospectus, as it  may be amended or  supplemented from time to time,
may be used by a Participating Broker-Dealer in connection with resales of  such
New  Notes for  a period ending  90 days  after the Expiration  Date (subject to
extension under certain limited circumstances described herein) or, if  earlier,
when   all  such  New  Notes  have   been  disposed  of  by  such  Participating
Broker-Dealer. See "The Exchange Offer -- Resales of New Notes."
 
    The Company will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the  New
Notes  offered  hereby.  New  Notes received  by  broker-dealers  for  their own
accounts in connection with the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time  in
one   or  more  transactions  in  the  over-the-counter  market,  in  negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options  on the New Notes or a  combination
of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at
prices  related to  such prevailing market  prices or at  negotiated prices. Any
such resale may  be made  directly to  purchasers or  to or  through brokers  or
dealers  who may receive compensation in  the form of commissions or concessions
from any such  broker-dealer and/or the  purchasers of any  such New Notes.  Any
broker-dealer  that  resells New  Notes that  were  received by  it for  its own
account in connection  with the  Exchange Offer and  any broker  or dealer  that
participates  in  a  distribution of  such  New Notes  may  be deemed  to  be an
"underwriter" within the meaning  of the Securities Act,  and any profit on  any
such resale of New Notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such
persons  may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act.
The Letter of Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver  and
by  delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it
is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
    Certain legal matters in connection with  the Notes will be passed upon  for
the  Company by  Wilson, Sonsini,  Goodrich &  Rosati, Professional Corporation,
Palo Alto, California.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Solectron  Corporation
and  subsidiaries as of August 31,  1995 and 1994, and for  each of the years in
the three-year period ended August 31,  1995, have been incorporated herein  and
in  the Registration Statement in reliance upon  the report of KPMG Peat Marwick
LLP, independent  auditors,  incorporated  by reference  herein,  and  upon  the
authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
    The  financial statements of  the Custom Manufacturing  Services Business of
Texas Instruments Incorporated at December 31, 1995 and for the year then  ended
incorporated  by reference in  this Registration Statement  have been audited by
Ernst & Young LLP,  independent auditors, as set  forth in their report  thereon
incorporated  by reference elsewhere  herein, and are  included in reliance upon
such report given upon the authority of  such firm as experts in accounting  and
auditing.
 
                                       38

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    NO  DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL  HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE  ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN  THOSE CONTAINED IN  THIS
PROSPECTUS  IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING COVERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS. IF GIVEN
OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION  OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT  BE RELIED UPON AS  HAVING
BEEN  AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO
SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE, OR TO ANY
PERSON TO WHOM, IT IS UNLAWFUL TO  MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER  THE
DELIVERY  OF  THIS  PROSPECTUS NOR  ANY  SALE  MADE HEREUNDER  SHALL,  UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE AN  IMPLICATION THAT THERE  HAS NOT BEEN  A CHANGE IN  THE
FACTS  SET FORTH IN THIS  PROSPECTUS OR IN THE AFFAIRS  OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE
DATE HEREOF.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 


                                                   PAGE
                                                 ---------
                                              
Available Information..........................          5
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
 Reference.....................................          5
Summary........................................          6
Risk Factors...................................         14
Use of Proceeds................................         17
Capitalization.................................         18
The Exchange Offer.............................         19
Selected Consolidated Financial Data...........         28
Description of the New Notes...................         29
Description of the Old Notes...................         36
Certain United States Federal Income Tax
 Considerations................................         36
Plan of Distribution...........................         38
Legal Matters..................................         38
Experts........................................         38

 
                                  $150,000,000
 
   
                                     [LOGO]
    
 
                     7 3/8% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006, SERIES B
 
                             ---------------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
 
                             ---------------------
 
   
                                  MAY 29, 1996
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                      PART II

                         INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 20.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     Section 317 of the California Corporations Code authorizes a court to
award, or a corporation's Board of Directors to grant, indemnity to directors
and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit such indemnification under 
certain circumstances for liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses
incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act").  Article IV of Registrant's Articles of Incorporation and Article VIII 
of the Registrant's Bylaws provide for indemnification of the directors, 
officers, employees and other agents of the Registrant to the maximum extent 
permitted by Calaifornia law.  In addition, Registrant has entered into 
indemnification agreements with its officers and directors.

ITEM 21.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

   
     (a)  Exhibits.
          --------

      Exhibit
       Number                               Description
      ------- -----------------------------------------------------------------

       *4.1   Indenture, dated as of February 15, 1996, between the Registrant
              and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee.
       *4.2   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 26, 1996,
              between the Registrant and Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch,
              Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co.
              Incorporated and Hambracht & Quist LLC.
       *4.3   Form of Security for 7 3/8% Notes due 2006, Series A originally
              issued by Solectron Corporation on February 29, 1996 (included
              in Exhibit 4.1).
       *4.4   Form of Security for 7 3/8% Notes due 2006, Series B to be
              issued by Solectron Corporation and registered under the
              Securities Act of 1933.
       *5.1   Opinion of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, Professional
              Corporation.
      *12.1   Statement regarding computation of ratio of earnings to fixed
              charges.
       23.1   Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Independent Auditors.
       23.2   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.
      *23.3   Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1).
      *24.1   Powers of attorney (included on page II-3).
      *25.1   Statement of eligibility of trustee on Form T-1.
      *99.1   Form of Letter of Transmittal.
      *99.2   Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
      *99.3   Form of Exchange Agent Agreement.

____________
* Previously filed.

    

ITEM 22.  UNDERTAKINGS

     1.  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (and, 
where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report 
pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by 
reference in the Registration Statement shall be demmed 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.

     2.  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes as follows:

     (a)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, 
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: (i) to include any 
prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; (ii) to 
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective 
date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective 
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a 
fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement;

                                     II-1



   
                                  SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 
the Registrant has duly caused this Amendment to Registration Statement to be 
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the 
City of Milpitas, State of California on May 28, 1996.
    

                                      SOLECTRON CORPORATION

                                      By: /s/ Susan S. Wang
                                          ------------------------------
                                          Susan S. Wang, Senior Vice President
                                          and Chief Financial Officer

   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 
this Amendment to Registration Statement has been signed by the following 
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
    

   
      Signature                       Title                        Date
- -------------------------     -----------------------        -----------------
         *
- -------------------------     Chairman of the Board             May 28, 1996
   Charles A. Dickinson

         *
- -------------------------     President and Chief Executive     May 28, 1996
   Koichi Nishimura, Ph.D.     Officer

/s/ Susan S. Wang
- -------------------------     Senior Vice President and         May 28, 1996
    Susan S. Wang              Chief Financial Officer

         *
- -------------------------     Director                          May 28, 1996
   Winston H. Chen, Ph.D.

         *
- -------------------------     Director                          May 28, 1996
   Richard A. D'Amore

         *
- -------------------------     Director                          May 28, 1996
   Heinz Fridrich

         *
- -------------------------     Director                          May 28, 1996
Kenneth E. Haughton, Ph.D.

         *
- -------------------------     Director                          May 28, 1996
    Paul R. Low, Ph.D.

         *
- -------------------------     Director                          May 28, 1996
   W. Ferrell Sanders

         *
- -------------------------     Director                          May 28, 1996
     Osamu Yamada

    

   

*By  /s/ Susan S. Wang
- -------------------------
      Susan S. Wang      
    Attorney-in-Fact
    

                                     II-2



                               SOLECTRON CORPORATION

                         REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4
                         ----------------------------------

                                 INDEX TO EXHIBITS

   



                                                                 Sequentially
  Exhibit                                                          Numbered
  Number                     Description                              Page
- ----------     -------------------------------------------     ----------------
                                                         
 * 4.1         Indenture, dated as of February 15, 1996, 
               between the Registrant and State Street Bank
               and Trust Company, as trustee . . . . . . . . . .

 * 4.2         Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of 
               February 26, 1996, between the Registrant and
               Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, 
               Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley
               & Co. Incorporated and Hambrecht & Quist LLC . . .

 * 4.3         Form of Security for 7 3/8% Notes due 2006,
               Series A originally issued by Solectron
               Corporation on February 29, 1996 (included in
               Exhibit 4.1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 * 4.4         Form of Security for 7 3/8% Notes due 2006,
               Series B to be issued by Solectron Corporation
               and registered under the Securities Act of
               1933 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 * 5.1         Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,
               Professional Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 *12.1         Statement Regarding Computation of Ratio of
               Earnings to Fixed Charges . . . . . . . . . . . . 

  23.1         Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Independent
               Auditors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  23.2         Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent
               Auditors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 *23.3         Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1
               above) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 *25.1         Statement of eligibility of trustee on
               Form T-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 *99.1         Form of Letter of Transmittal . . . . . . . . . . 

 *99.2         Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery . . . . . . 

 *99.3         Form of Exchange Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . .

__________________
* Previously filed.