As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 27, 1999
                              Subject to Amendment
                                                      Registration Nos. 333-
                                                                      333-
                                                                      333-
                                                                      333-
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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549
 
                                --------------
                                   FORM S-3
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
                                --------------
     Duke Capital                  Delaware                     56-0282142
     Corporation                   Delaware                     51-0379864
     Duke Capital                  Delaware                     62-6349496
 Financing Trust III               Delaware                     62-6349495
     Duke Capital
  Financing Trust IV
        (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
                                                             (I.R.S. Employer
                                                              Identification
     Duke Capital                                                 Nos.)
  Financing Trust V
 (Exact name of each
    registrant as
   specified in its
       charter)
 
                            422 South Church Street
                        Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
                                 704-594-6200
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,including area code, of
                each registrant's principal executive offices)
 
                                --------------
        RICHARD J. OSBORNE                                     JOHN SPUCHES
     Vice President and Chief                                Dewey Ballantine
        Financial Officer                                          LLP
     422 South Church Street                                1301 Avenue of the
 Charlotte, North Carolina 28202                                 Americas
    Telephone No. 704-382-5159                              New York, New York
                                                                  10019
                                                            Telephone No. 212-
                                                                 259-7700
 (Names, addresses, including zip codes, and telephone numbers, including area
               codes, of agents for service of each registrant)
 
                                --------------
 
  Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time
to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
  If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the
following box. [_]
  If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]
  If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [_] __________
  If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]__________
  If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [_]
                                --------------
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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                                                      Proposed Maximum
                                           Amount      Offering Price   Proposed Maximum
       Title of Each Class of              to be            Per        Aggregate Offering      Amount of
     Securities to be Registered       Registered(1)   Unit(1)(2)(3)     Price(1)(2)(3)   Registration Fee(1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              
Duke Capital Financing Trust III
 Trust Preferred Securities..........
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Duke Capital Financing Trust IV Trust
 Preferred Securities................
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Duke Capital Financing Trust V Trust
 Preferred Securities................
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Duke Capital Corporation Senior
 Notes...............................
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Duke Capital Corporation Junior
 Subordinated Notes .................
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Duke Capital Corporation Guarantees
 with respect to Trust Preferred
 Securities of Duke Capital Financing
 Trust III,
 Duke Capital Financing Trust IV and
 Duke Capital Financing Trust
 V(4)(5).............................
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Total................................  $1,000,000,000       100%         $1,000,000,000        $278,000

 
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(1) There are being registered hereunder such presently indeterminate number
    of Trust Preferred Securities of Duke Capital Financing Trust III, Duke
    Capital Financing Trust IV and Duke Capital Financing Trust V and such
    presently indeterminate principal amount of Senior Notes and Junior
    Subordinated Notes of Duke Capital Corporation with an aggregate initial
    offering price not to exceed $1,000,000,000. Junior Subordinated Notes
    also may be issued to Duke Capital Financing Trust III, Duke Capital
    Financing Trust IV or Duke Capital Financing Trust V and later distributed
    upon dissolution and distribution of the assets thereof, which would
    include such Junior Subordinated Notes for which no separate consideration
    will be received. Pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of
    1933, which permits the registration fee to be calculated on the basis of
    the maximum offering price of all the securities listed, the table does
    not specify by each class information as to the amount to be registered,
    proposed maximum offering price per unit or proposed maximum aggregate
    offering price.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee.
(3) Exclusive of accrued interest and distributions, if any.
(4) No separate consideration will be received for the Duke Capital
    Corporation Guarantees. Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act
    of 1933, no separate fee is payable in respect of the Duke Capital
    Corporation Guarantees.
(5) Includes the obligations of Duke Capital Corporation under the respective
    Trust Agreements, the Subordinated Indenture, the related series of Junior
    Subordinated Notes, the respective Guarantees and the respective
    Agreements as to Expenses and Liabilities, which include the Corporation's
    covenant to pay any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of the Trusts
    (other than obligations pursuant to the terms of the Trust Preferred
    Securities or other similar interests), all as described in this
    registration statement.
                                --------------
  The registrants hereby amend this registration statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrants
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this
registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with
Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement
shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission,
acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
 
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                                EXPLANATORY NOTE
 
This Registration Statement includes a prospectus and two forms of prospectus
supplement. The first is a form of prospectus supplement that may be used in
connection with issuances from time to time of Trust Preferred Securities. The
second is a form of prospectus supplement that may be used in connection with
issuances from time to time of Senior Notes.

 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY +
+NOT SELL THE PREFERRED SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH +
+THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT   +
+AN OFFER TO SELL THE PREFERRED SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER   +
+TO BUY THE PREFERRED SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE OF THE   +
+PREFERRED SECURITIES IS NOT PERMITTED.                                        +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED       , 1999)
 
                    SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED      , 1999
 
                        [        ] PREFERRED SECURITIES
                        DUKE CAPITAL FINANCING TRUST [ ]
                     % CUMULATIVE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
                 (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $  PER PREFERRED SECURITY)
         FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
 
                            DUKE CAPITAL CORPORATION
                    A SUBSIDIARY OF DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
 
                                  ----------
 
  This is an offering of   % Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities ("Preferred
Securities") of Duke Capital Financing Trust [ ], a Delaware statutory business
trust. The Trust will use the proceeds from the sale of the Preferred
Securities to purchase $     aggregate principal amount of Series  Junior
Subordinated Notes from Duke Capital Corporation. The Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes are unsecured subordinated obligations of the Corporation
and have payment terms similar to those of the Preferred Securities. The Trust
will rely on the payments it receives on the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes
to fund all payments on the Preferred Securities. The Corporation will
guarantee payments on the Preferred Securities as described herein.
 
  The Preferred Securities will pay cumulative cash distributions at the annual
rate of   % of the liquidation amount ($   per Preferred Security) payable
quarterly on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year,
beginning on      ,    . However, at any time and as often as it wishes, the
Corporation may begin an Extension Period, during which distributions will be
deferred for up to 20 consecutive quarters, but not beyond the maturity date of
the Preferred Securities. During an Extension Period, deferred distributions on
the Preferred Securities will accumulate additional distributions at an annual
rate of   % (to the extent permitted by applicable law).
 
  When the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes mature or when the Corporation
redeems or repays any Series   Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust will redeem
a related amount of Preferred Securities. The stated maturity of the Series
Junior Subordinated Notes is       ,    . The Corporation may redeem the Series
  Junior Subordinated Notes (1) at any time on or after       ,    , in whole
or in part, or (2) at any time within 90 days after the occurrence of certain
tax or regulatory developments, in whole but not in part. The redemption price
of the Preferred Securities will equal the Liquidation Amount plus any
accumulated and unpaid distributions. The Corporation may cause the Trust to
distribute to the holders of Preferred Securities an equivalent amount of
Series   Junior Subordinated Notes at any time in exchange for the Preferred
Securities.
 
  SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE S-8 TO READ ABOUT CERTAIN FACTORS YOU
SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE PURCHASING THE PREFERRED SECURITIES.
 
  We intend to list the Preferred Securities on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol "    ." We expect trading in the Preferred Securities on the
New York Stock Exchange to begin within 30 days after the original issue date.
 
                                  ----------
 


                                                    PER PREFERRED SECURITY TOTAL
                                                    ---------------------- -----
                                                                     
Initial Public Offering Price......................
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions.............           (1)           (1)
Proceeds, before expenses, to the Trust............

- -----
(1) Underwriting commissions of $   per Preferred Security (or $          in
    the aggregate) will be paid by the Corporation.
 
                                  ----------
 
  NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE
ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE ACCOMPANYING
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
  The underwriters are severally underwriting the Preferred Securities. The
underwriters expect to deliver the Preferred Securities in book-entry only form
through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company against payment in New
York, New York on      ,  .
 
                                  ----------
 
                            [NAMES OF UNDERWRITERS]
 
                                  ----------
 
                    Prospectus Supplement dated      ,     .

 
  You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. We
have not, and the Underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide
you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or
inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the
Underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any
jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that
the information appearing in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying
Prospectus is accurate as of the date on the front of the documents only. Our
business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have
changed since that date.
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 


                                                                           Page
                          Prospectus Supplement                            ----
                                                                        
Forward-Looking Statements ...............................................  S-3
Summary of Offering.......................................................  S-4
Risk Factors..............................................................  S-8
Recent Developments....................................................... S-11
Duke Capital Financing Trust [  ]......................................... S-12
Description of the Preferred Securities................................... S-13
Description of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes..................... S-27
Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Series    Junior
 Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee..................................... S-31
Material Federal Income Tax Considerations................................ S-33
Underwriting.............................................................. S-36
Validity of the Securities................................................ S-37
 
                                   Prospectus
 
Where to Find More Information............................................    2
Duke Capital Corporation..................................................    4
The Trusts................................................................    9
Use of Proceeds...........................................................   10
Description of the Senior Notes...........................................   11
Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes..............................   23
Description of the Preferred Securities...................................   33
Description of the Guarantees.............................................   34
Accounting Treatment......................................................   37
Plan of Distribution......................................................   37
Validity of the Securities................................................   38
Experts...................................................................   38

 
                                      S-2

 
                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus include forward-
looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We caution
investors and prospective investors that there are a number of forward-looking
statements contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement
and the accompanying Prospectus. These forward-looking statements may include
statements about the expected revenues, earnings, capital expenditures,
resolution and impact of litigation, competitive performance, or other
prospects for the business of Duke Capital Corporation (the "Corporation") and
its subsidiaries or their affiliated companies, and include any and all
assumptions that underlie the forward-looking statements and other statements
that are other than statements of historical fact. Actual outcomes and results
are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those projected. Factors
that could cause forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include, but are
not limited to:
 
    . state and federal legislative and regulatory initiatives
      that affect cost and investment recovery, have an impact
      on rate structures, and affect the speed and degree to
      which competition enters the electric and natural gas
      industries;
 
    . industrial, commercial and residential growth in the
      service territories of the Corporation and its
      subsidiaries;
 
    . the weather and other natural phenomena;
 
    . the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices and
      interest rates;
 
    . changes in environmental and other laws and regulations
      to which the Corporation and its subsidiaries are
      subject or other external factors over which the
      Corporation has no control;
 
    . the results of financing efforts;
 
    . growth in opportunities for the Corporation's
      subsidiaries;
 
    . achievement of Year 2000 readiness; and
 
    . the effect of the Corporation's accounting policies.
 
In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking
events discussed in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus
might not occur. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements or this discussion of some of the factors that could
cause actual results to differ, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
 
                                      S-3

 
                              SUMMARY OF OFFERING
 
This summary highlights information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus
Supplement and in the accompanying Prospectus. This summary is not complete and
does not contain all the information you should consider before investing in
the Preferred Securities. You should pay special attention to the Risk Factors
section of this Prospectus Supplement to determine whether an investment in the
Preferred Securities is appropriate for you.
 
The Corporation.............  Duke Capital Corporation, a wholly owned
                               subsidiary of Duke Energy Corporation, serves as
                               the parent company to a number of affiliates of
                               Duke Energy Corporation. Those affiliates are
                               primarily engaged in the interstate
                               transportation and storage of natural gas, in
                               the gathering, processing, marketing and
                               intrastate transportation and storage of natural
                               gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil, in
                               natural gas and electric power marketing, in the
                               acquisition, development and operation of
                               independent power production facilities, in risk
                               management services and in engineering
                               consulting, construction and other related
                               energy services. The principal executive offices
                               of the Corporation are located at 422 South
                               Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28202 (telephone
                               (704) 594-6200).
 
The Trust...................  Duke Capital Financing Trust [  ] is a statutory
                               business trust created solely for the purpose of
                               issuing Preferred Securities to the public and
                               Common Securities to the Corporation and
                               investing the proceeds in an equivalent amount
                               of the Corporation's Series   Junior
                               Subordinated Notes due            ,      (the
                               "Series   Junior Subordinated Notes").
 
Preferred Securities             % Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities (the
Offered.....................   "Preferred Securities").
 
Distributions...............  Holders of the Preferred Securities are entitled
                               to receive cumulative cash distributions at the
                               annual rate of  % of the liquidation amount of
                               $   per Preferred Security accruing from the
                               original issue date and payable, unless
                               deferred, quarterly on March 31, June 30,
                               September 30 and December 31 of each year (each,
                               a "Distribution Date"), commencing on      ,   .
 
 
                                      S-4

 
Record Dates................  The record date for each Distribution Date will
                               be the close of business on the 15th calendar
                               day prior to such Distribution Date.
 
Junior Subordinated Notes...  The Trust will use the proceeds from the sale of
                               the Preferred Securities to purchase from the
                               Corporation $    aggregate principal amount of
                               Series   Junior Subordinated Notes due    . The
                               Series   Junior Subordinated Notes are unsecured
                               subordinated obligations of the Corporation.
                               Subject to any deferral, distributions are
                               payable on the Preferred Securities and the
                               Distributions Dates for the Preferred Securities
                               will correspond to the interest rate and
                               interest payment dates on the Series Junior
                               Subordinated Notes. If the Corporation does not
                               pay principal or interest on the Series   Junior
                               Subordinated Notes, no amounts will be paid on
                               the Preferred Securities. See "Description of
                               the Preferred Securities" in this Prospectus
                               Supplement.
 
Deferral of Distributions...  The Corporation has the right to defer payments
                               of interest on the Series   Junior Subordinated
                               Notes by extending the interest payment period
                               on the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes, at
                               any time and as often as it wishes, for up to 20
                               consecutive quarters (each, an "Extension
                               Period"), but not beyond the maturity date of
                               the Series  Junior Subordinated Notes.
 
                              If interest payments on the Series   Junior
                               Subordinated Notes are deferred, distributions
                               on the Preferred Securities will also be
                               deferred. During an Extension Period, holders of
                               Preferred Securities (or the Series   Junior
                               Subordinated Notes) will recognize interest
                               income for federal income tax purposes in
                               advance of the receipt of the cash payments of
                               such deferred distributions (or interest) even
                               if the holder is a cash basis taxpayer. See
                               "Description of the Series   Junior Subordinated
                               Notes--Option to Extend Interest Payment Period"
                               and "Material Federal Income Tax
                               Considerations--Original Issue Discount."
                               Deferred interest will bear interest at an
                               annual rate of   %, compounded quarterly, to the
                               date of payment to the extent permitted by
                               applicable law.
 
                              If interest payments on the Series   Junior
                               Subordinated Notes are deferred, the Corporation
                               will not, with certain exceptions, be permitted
                               during an Extension Period (1) to pay dividends
                               on, or redeem or otherwise purchase, any of its
                               capital stock or (2) to pay principal or
                               interest on, or
 
                                      S-5

 
                               redeem or otherwise purchase, any debt
                               securities ranking equal in priority with or
                               subordinate to the Series   Junior Subordinated
                               Notes.
 
Redemption..................  The Trust will redeem the Preferred Securities
                               when the Corporation repays the Series   Junior
                               Subordinated Notes at maturity or upon their
                               earlier redemption. The Corporation may at its
                               option redeem the Series   Junior Subordinated
                               Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time on
                               or after      ,  . The Corporation may also
                               redeem the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes at
                               any time, in whole, within 90 days following the
                               occurrence of a Special Event (see below).
 
Redemption Price............  If the Preferred Securities are redeemed, each
                               holder of a Preferred Security will be entitled
                               to receive a liquidation amount of $   plus
                               accrued and unpaid distributions to the date of
                               payment.
 
Special Event...............  A "Special Event" means a Tax Event or an
                               Investment Company Act Event. A "Tax Event"
                               means that because of changes in certain tax
                               laws or regulations or in how they are
                               interpreted or applied, there is more than an
                               insubstantial risk that (a) the Trust would be
                               subject to United States federal income tax with
                               respect to income accrued or received on the
                               Series   Junior Subordinated Notes, (b) interest
                               payable on the Series   Junior Subordinated
                               Notes would not be deductible by the Corporation
                               for United States federal income tax purposes or
                               (c) the Trust would be subject to more than a de
                               minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other
                               governmental charges. An "Investment Company Act
                               Event" means that because of changes in certain
                               laws or regulations or in how they are
                               interpreted or applied, there is more than an
                               insubstantial risk that the Trust is or will be
                               considered an "investment company" under the
                               Investment Company Act of 1940. See "Risk
                               Factors--Special Event Redemption; Distribution
                               of Series   Junior Subordinated Notes upon
                               Termination of Trust."
 

Termination of Trust........  The Corporation will have the right to terminate
                               the Trust at any time and cause the Property
                               Trustee to distribute Series   Junior
                               Subordinated Notes to the holders of the
                               Preferred Securities in exchange for those
                               securities. This right is optional and wholly
                               within the discretion of the Corporation.
 
                                      S-6

 
                               See "Description of the Preferred Securities--
                               Liquidation Distribution upon Dissolution" and "
                               --Distribution of Series   Junior Subordinated
                               Notes upon Termination of Trust."
 

Ranking of Series           
Junior Subordinated Notes...  The Series   Junior Subordinated Notes will be
                               subordinate and junior in right of payment to
                               all indebtedness for borrowed money and other
                               obligations of the Corporation included in the
                               definition of Senior Indebtedness.
 
Guarantee...................  The Corporation will guarantee the payment of
                               distributions and other payments by the Trust on
                               the Preferred Securities, but only to the extent
                               the Trust has funds legally and immediately
                               available to make such distributions (the
                               "Guarantee").
 
Ranking of Guarantee........  The Corporation's obligations under the Guarantee
                               will be subordinate and junior in right of
                               payment to all other liabilities of the
                               Corporation (other than similar guarantees) and
                               will rank equal in priority with the most senior
                               preferred stock that may be issued by the
                               Corporation and with such similar guarantees.
 
Book-Entry Only Issuances...  The Preferred Securities will be represented by a
                               global certificate or certificates that will be
                               deposited with and registered in the name of The
                               Depository Trust Company, New York, New York
                               ("DTC") or its nominee. This means that
                               investors will not receive certificates for
                               their Preferred Securities.
 
Listing.....................  The Trust has applied to list the Preferred
                               Securities on the New York Stock Exchange.
 
The Trustees................  The Chase Manhattan Bank will act as Property
                               Trustee of the Trust. Two officers of the
                               Corporation also will act as the Administrative
                               Trustees of the Trust. Chase Manhattan Bank
                               Delaware will be the Delaware Trustee of the
                               Trust. The Chase Manhattan Bank will act as the
                               Subordinated Indenture Trustee (the trustee
                               under the Subordinated Note Indenture under
                               which the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes
                               will be issued) and will act as the Guarantee
                               Trustee (the trustee under the Guarantee). The
                               Property Trustee, Delaware Trustee and
                               Administrative Trustees are sometimes
                               collectively referred to in this Prospectus
                               Supplement as the Securities Trustees.
 
                                      S-7

 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
  An investment in the Preferred Securities involves a number of risks, some of
which relate to the nature of the Preferred Securities and others of which
relate to the Corporation. You should carefully read and consider the following
risk factors and the other information contained in this Prospectus Supplement
and the accompanying Prospectus, before buying any Preferred Securities.
 
Ranking of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes
 
  The obligations of the Corporation under the Series   Junior Subordinated
Notes are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and future
Senior Indebtedness of the Corporation. As of      ,   , Senior Indebtedness of
the Corporation totaled approximately $         .
 
  The terms in the Preferred Securities, the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes
and the Guarantee do not limit the Corporation's ability to incur additional
indebtedness, including Senior Indebtedness. See "Description of the
Guarantees" and "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Subordination"
in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
  The Corporation conducts its business through subsidiaries. Accordingly, the
ability of the Corporation to meet its obligations under the Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes will depend on the earnings and cash flows of its
subsidiaries and their ability to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to
the Corporation. In addition, the rights of the Corporation and its creditors
to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary's
liquidation or recapitalization will be subject to the prior claims of the
subsidiary's creditors.
 
Ranking of the Guarantee
 
  The Corporation's obligations under the Guarantee will rank:
 
  . subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of
    the Corporation (other than similar guarantees);
 
  . equal in priority with the most senior preferred stock that may be
    issued by the Corporation and with such similar guarantees; and
 
  . senior to the Corporation's common stock.
 
Payments on the Preferred Securities Dependent upon Payments on the Series
Junior Subordinated Notes; Rights under the Guarantee
 
  Payments made on the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes will be the only
source of funds for payments on the Preferred Securities. If the Corporation
defaults in its payment obligations on the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes,
the Trust will lack available funds for distributions or other payments on the
Preferred Securities. In such event holders of the Preferred Securities will
not be able to rely upon the Guarantee for such distributions or other
payments.
 
Option to Extend Interest Payment Period
 
  The Corporation has the right under the Subordinated Note Indenture, at any
time, and from time to time, to defer payments of interest on the Series
Junior Subordinated Notes for a period of
 
                                      S-8

 
up to 20 consecutive quarters (each, an "Extension Period"), but not beyond the
maturity date of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes.
 
  Deferred installments of interest on the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes
will bear interest at an annual rate of   %, compounded quarterly, to the date
of payment to the extent permitted by law. The payment of such deferred
interest, together with any interest thereon, will be passed through to the
holders of the Preferred Securities.
 
  The only restrictions on the Corporation's ability to defer payments of
interest are that during any Extension Period the Corporation may not, with
certain exceptions:
 
  . pay dividends on, or redeem or otherwise purchase, any of its capital
    stock; or
 
  . pay principal or interest on, or redeem or otherwise purchase, any debt
    securities ranking equal in priority with or subordinate to the Series
    Junior Subordinated Notes.
 
  See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Distributions" and "Description
of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes--Option to Extend Interest Payment
Period" and "--Certain Covenants."
 
  If the Corporation defers payments of interest, each holder of Preferred
Securities (or Series   Junior Subordinated Notes) will recognize interest
income for federal income tax purposes in advance of the receipt of cash
payment of such deferred distributions (or interest) even if the holder is a
cash basis taxpayer and will not receive cash related to such income if such
holders dispose of their Preferred Securities (or Series   Junior Subordinated
Notes) prior to the record date for the date on which payments of such amounts
are made. See "Material Federal Income Tax Considerations--Original Issue
Discount" and "--Sale of Preferred Securities."
 
  Investors should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax
consequences of an investment in the Preferred Securities.
 
 
Special Event Redemption; Distribution of Series   Junior Subordinated Notes
upon Termination of Trust
 
  The Corporation will have the option, within 90 days following the occurrence
of a Special Event, to redeem the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes in whole,
with the result that the Preferred Securities will be redeemed.
 
  The Corporation will also have the right at any time to terminate the Trust
and cause the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes to be distributed to the
holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust. See
"Description of the Preferred Securities--Special Event Redemption or
Distribution" and "--Distribution of Series   Junior Subordinated Notes upon
Termination of Trust."
 
  There can be no assurance as to the market price for the Series  Junior
Subordinated Notes that may be distributed in exchange for Preferred Securities
if a termination or liquidation of the Trust occurs. Accordingly, the Series
Junior Subordinated Notes that the investor may receive on termination and
liquidation of the Trust may trade at a discount to the price that the investor
paid to purchase the Preferred Securities offered hereby. See "Description of
the Preferred Securities--Distribution of Series  Junior Subordinated Notes
upon Termination of Trust."
 
                                      S-9

 
Limited Voting Rights
 
  Holders of Preferred Securities will have limited voting rights. In general,
holders of Preferred Securities will not be entitled to vote to appoint, remove
or replace any of the Securities Trustees, which voting rights are generally
vested in the Corporation as the holder of the Common Securities. If an Event
of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the Series
Junior Subordinated Notes occurs and is continuing, however, the holders of the
Preferred Securities will have the right to appoint a substitute Property
Trustee or Delaware Trustee. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--
Voting Rights" and "--Events of Default" in this Prospectus Supplement and
"Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Events of Default" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
 
Trading Characteristics of Preferred Securities
 
  The Preferred Securities are expected to be listed on the New York Stock
Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance. The Preferred Securities are
expected to trade at a price that takes into account the value, if any, of
accrued but unpaid distributions; thus, purchasers will not pay and sellers
will not receive accrued and unpaid interest with respect to the Preferred
Securities that is not included in the trading price of the Preferred
Securities. If a Preferred Security is disposed of prior to the occurrence of
an Extension Period, any portion of the amount received that is attributable to
accrued interest will be treated as interest income to a U.S. holder for tax
purposes and will not be treated as part of the amount realized for purposes of
determining gain or loss on the disposition of the Preferred Security. If an
Extension Period occurs, interest on the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes
will be included in the gross income of U.S. holders of Preferred Securities as
it accrues rather than when it is paid. If an Extension Period occurs, a holder
who disposes of his Preferred Securities between record dates for payments of
distributions would be required to include accrued but unpaid interest on the
Series   Junior Subordinated Notes through the date of disposition in income as
original issue discount, and to add such amount to his adjusted tax basis in
his pro rata share of the related Series   Junior Subordinated Notes deemed
disposed of. To the extent the selling price is less than the holder's adjusted
tax basis, a holder generally will recognize a capital loss. Subject to certain
limited exceptions, capital losses cannot be applied to offset ordinary income
for United States federal income tax purposes. See "Material Federal Income Tax
Considerations--Original Issue Discount" and "--Sale of Preferred Securities."
 
  There has been no public market for the Preferred Securities prior to this
offering, and there can be no assurance that an active public market for the
Preferred Securities will develop. If an active trading market for the
Preferred Securities does develop, there can be no assurance that it will be
sustained after this offering. See "Plan of Distribution" in the accompanying
Prospectus.
 
Investment in Trust Involves Risks Parallel to Those of Investment in
Corporation
 
  As with an investment in the Corporation, an investment in the Trust involves
risks associated with operating conditions, competitive factors, economic
conditions, industry conditions and equity market conditions.
 
Consequences of Highly Leveraged Transaction
 
  The Subordinated Note Indenture does not contain provisions that afford
holders of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes protection in the event of a
highly leveraged transaction involving the Corporation.
 
                                      S-10

 
                              RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
Recent Income Statement Data
 
  The following table presents unaudited income statement data for the year
ended December 31, 1998, which data should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements, the notes thereto and the other information
contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the
accompanying Prospectus.
 


                                                                     (Dollars
                                                                        in
                                                                    Thousands)
                                                                    -----------
                                                                 
      Operating Revenues........................................... $13,059,000
      Operating Expenses...........................................  12,023,000
       Operating Income............................................   1,036,000
      Other Income, Net............................................     101,000
      Earnings Before Interest and Taxes...........................   1,137,000
      Interest Expense.............................................     237,000
      Income Before Extraordinary Loss.............................     519,000
      Net Income...................................................     511,000

 
                                      S-11

 
                       DUKE CAPITAL FINANCING TRUST [  ]
 
  The Trust is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law pursuant
to the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State on
     , 1998. The Trust's business is defined in a trust agreement, executed by
the Corporation, as depositor, and the Delaware Trustee. That trust agreement
will be amended and restated in its entirety on the date of original issuance
of the Preferred Securities in substantially the form filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement and the
accompanying Prospectus form a part (the "Trust Agreement"). The Trust
Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939.
 
  The Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of issuing and selling the
Preferred Securities and the Common Securities (collectively, the "Trust
Securities") representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust, investing the gross proceeds of the Trust Securities in the Series
Junior Subordinated Notes, and engaging in only those other activities as are
necessary, appropriate, convenient or incidental to those purposes. The Trust
has a term of approximately   years from its creation, but may terminate
earlier as provided in the Trust Agreement.
 
  Upon the issuance of the Preferred Securities, the purchasers of the
Preferred Securities will own all the Preferred Securities, which will have an
aggregate liquidation amount equal to approximately 97% of the total capital of
the Trust. The Corporation will acquire all the Common Securities, which will
have an aggregate liquidation amount equal to approximately 3% of the total
capital of the Trust. The Common Securities will rank equal in priority with,
and payments will be made on the Common Securities pro rata with, the Preferred
Securities, except that upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of
Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the Series
Junior Subordinated Notes, the rights of the holders of Common Securities to
payments in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption
and otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the
Preferred Securities.
 
  The Securities Trustees will conduct the Trust's business and affairs. The
Securities Trustees will be appointed by the Corporation as the holder of the
Common Securities. Two officers of the Corporation initially will serve as
Administrative Trustees. The Chase Manhattan Bank will serve as Property
Trustee and will hold legal title to the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes on
behalf of the Trust and the holders of the Trust Securities. Chase Manhattan
Bank Delaware will serve as Delaware Trustee. In certain circumstances, the
holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities will be
entitled to appoint a substitute Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee. See
"Description of the Preferred Securities--Events of Default."
 
  The Property Trustee will hold legal title to the Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes for the benefit of the Trust and the holders of the Trust
Securities and will have the power, with certain exceptions, to exercise all
rights, powers and privileges under the Subordinated Note Indenture as the
holder of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes. To the extent payments in
respect of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes are made to the Property
Trustee, the Property Trustee will make payments of distributions and payments
on liquidation, redemption and otherwise to the holders of the Trust
Securities. The Corporation, as the holder of all the Common Securities, will
have the right to appoint, remove or replace any of the Securities Trustees,
subject to the right of the holders of a majority in
 
                                      S-12

 
liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities to appoint a substitute Property
Trustee or Delaware Trustee under certain circumstances. See "Description of
the Preferred Securities--Events of Default."
 
  The Series   Junior Subordinated Notes will constitute substantially all of
the assets of the Trust. Other assets that may constitute "Trust Property" (as
that term is defined in the Trust Agreement) include any cash on deposit in, or
owing to, the payment account as established under the Trust Agreement, as well
as any other property or assets held by the Property Trustee pursuant to the
Trust Agreement. In addition, the Trust may, from time to time, receive cash
from the Corporation pursuant to the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities
between the Corporation and the Trust.
 
  The rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities, including economic
rights, rights to information and voting rights, are as set forth in the Trust
Agreement, the Delaware Business Trust Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
See "Description of the Preferred Securities."
 
  The Trust's office address in the State of Delaware is c/o Chase Manhattan
Bank Delaware, 1201 Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. The principal
place of business of the Trust will be c/o Duke Capital Corporation, 422 South
Church Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 (telephone (704) 594-6200).
 
                    DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
  The Trust will issue the Preferred Securities pursuant to the terms of the
Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. The Property Trustee will act as the indenture
trustee with respect to the Trust Agreement, as well as the Guarantee, for
purposes of compliance with the provisions of such Act. The terms of the
Preferred Securities will include those stated in the Trust Agreement and in
the Delaware Business Trust Act, and those made part of the Trust Agreement by
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
 
  The following summary of the principal terms and provisions of the Preferred
Securities does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in
its entirety by reference to, the Trust Agreement, the form of which is filed
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement
and the accompanying Prospectus are a part, as well as the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939.
 
General
 
  The Trust Agreement authorizes the Administrative Trustees to issue the
Preferred Securities and the Common Securities on behalf of the Trust. The
Preferred Securities represent preferred undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust. The Common Securities represent common undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. The Trust Agreement does not
permit the Trust to issue any securities other than the Preferred Securities
and the Common Securities or to incur any indebtedness for borrowed money.
Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee will own and hold the
Series   Junior Subordinated Notes for the benefit of the Trust and the holders
of the Trust Securities.
 
  The Corporation will own all the Common Securities. The Common Securities
will rank equal in priority with the Preferred Securities, and payments will be
made on the Common Securities on a
 
                                      S-13

 
pro rata basis with the Preferred Securities, except that the rights of the
holders of the Common Securities to receive payment of periodic distributions
and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise will be subordinated to
the rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the
Series   Junior Subordinated Notes.
 
  The Corporation has guaranteed on a subordinated basis payment of
distributions out of money held by the Trust and payments upon redemption of
the Preferred Securities or liquidation of the Trust, as and to the extent
described under "Description of the Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus.
The Guarantee does not cover payment of distributions or amounts payable upon
redemption of the Preferred Securities or otherwise in respect of the Preferred
Securities when the Trust does not have legally and immediately available funds
sufficient to make such distributions or payments. In such event, the holders
of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities may
direct the Property Trustee to enforce the Property Trustee's rights under the
Series   Junior Subordinated Notes. In addition, a holder of Preferred
Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Corporation,
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or
any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to that holder of
principal of or interest on the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes having a
principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities of that holder on or after the due dates specified or provided for
in the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes. These mechanisms and obligations,
together with the Corporation's obligations under the Agreement as to Expenses
and Liabilities between the Corporation and the Trust, provide a full and
unconditional guarantee, subject to certain subordination provisions, by the
Corporation of the payments due on the Preferred Securities.
 
Distributions
 
  Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be fixed at an annual rate of
 % and will accrue from the date of original issuance of the Preferred
Securities. Except in the event of an Extension Period, distributions on the
Preferred Securities will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30,
September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on           ,   . If
distributions are to be made on the Preferred Securities on a date that is not
a Business Day, the distributions payable on that date will be paid on the next
day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in
respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next
calendar year, the payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business
Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the date the
payment was originally payable. A "Business Day" means any day other than a
Saturday or Sunday, a day on which banks in New York City are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to remain closed or a day on which the
principal corporate trust office of the Property Trustee or the Subordinated
Indenture Trustee is closed for business.
 
  Distributions payable on any Distribution Date will be payable to holders of
record on the record date for that Distribution Date. The record date for a
Distribution Date is the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day
preceding that Distribution Date. Subject to any applicable laws and
regulations and the provisions of the Trust Agreement, each such payment will
be made as described under "--Book-Entry Only Issuance--DTC" below. The amount
of distributions payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-
day year of twelve 30-day months.
 
                                      S-14

 
  The Corporation has the right under the Subordinated Note Indenture to defer
payments of interest on the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes by extending the
interest payment period from time to time on the Series   Junior Subordinated
Notes, which, if exercised, would defer quarterly distributions on the
Preferred Securities during any such extended interest payment period. Deferred
installments of interest on the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes will bear
interest at an annual rate of  %, compounded quarterly, to the date of payment
to the extent permitted by applicable law. During an Extension Period, the
Corporation will have the right to make partial payments of interest on any
interest payment date on the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes. If
distributions are deferred, the deferred distributions and accrued interest
thereon will be paid, if funds are legally available for such payments, to
holders of record of the Preferred Securities as they appear on the books and
records of the Trust on the record date next following the termination of that
Extension Period. See "Description of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes--
Interest" and "--Option to Extend Interest Payment Period."
 
  Distributions on the Preferred Securities must be paid on the applicable
Distribution Dates to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and
immediately available for the payment of those distributions. The Trust's funds
available for distribution to the holders of the Preferred Securities will be
limited to payments received under the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes. See
"Description of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes."
 
Redemption
 
  The Preferred Securities are subject to mandatory redemption upon repayment
of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes at maturity or upon their earlier
redemption. The Series   Junior Subordinated Notes will mature on      ,  . The
Corporation may at its option redeem the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes, in
whole or in part, at any time on or after      ,  . The Corporation may also
redeem the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes at any time, in whole, within 90
days following the occurrence of a Special Event. In each case the Redemption
Price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes to be redeemed plus accrued but unpaid interest (including
any Additional Interest as defined below) to the redemption date.
 
  When the Corporation repays the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes, whether
at maturity or upon redemption, the proceeds from that payment will
simultaneously be applied to redeem a like liquidation amount of Trust
Securities upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice at the
Redemption Price. If a partial redemption of the Series   Junior Subordinated
Notes would result in the delisting of the Preferred Securities, the
Corporation may redeem the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes only in whole.
See "Description of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes--Optional
Redemption."
 
  If fewer than all the outstanding Preferred Securities are to be redeemed,
the Preferred Securities to be redeemed will be selected as described under
"--Book-Entry Only Issuance--DTC." If the Preferred Securities are no longer in
book-entry only form, the Preferred Securities to be redeemed will be selected
by such method as the Property Trustee deems fair and appropriate and which may
provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to $   or integral
multiples of $  ) of the aggregate liquidation amount of Preferred Securities
of a denomination larger than $  . Before undertaking the redemption of the
Preferred Securities on a basis other than pro rata,
 
                                      S-15

 
however, the Property Trustee is required to receive an opinion of counsel that
the status of the Trust as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes would not be adversely affected.
 
  The Redemption Price for each Preferred Security will equal the liquidation
amount of $   plus accrued and unpaid distributions on the Preferred Security
to the date of payment.
 
Special Event Redemption or Distribution
 
  The Corporation will have the option to redeem all the Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes within 90 days after the occurrence of a Special Event, thus
causing the redemption of the Preferred Securities in whole. A Special Event is
either a Tax Event or an Investment Company Act Event.
 
  A "Tax Event" means that the Administrative Trustees and the Corporation have
received an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters (which may be
counsel to the Corporation) to the effect that, as a result of (1) any
amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the
laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (2) any amendment to, or
change in, an interpretation or application of such laws or regulations, there
is more than an insubstantial risk that (a) the Trust would be subject to
United States federal income tax with respect to income accrued or received on
the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes, (b) interest payable on the Series
Junior Subordinated Notes would not be deductible by the Corporation for United
States federal income tax purposes or (c) the Trust would be subject to more
than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges,
which change or amendment becomes effective on or after the date of original
issuance of the Preferred Securities.
 
  An "Investment Company Act Event" means that the Administrative Trustees and
the Corporation have received an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters
(which may be counsel to the Corporation) to the effect that, as a result of
the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a written change in
interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body,
court, governmental agency or regulatory authority on or after the date of
original issuance of the Preferred Securities, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that the Trust is or will be considered an "investment
company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which change becomes
effective on or after the date of original issuance of the Preferred
Securities.
 
Distribution of Series   Junior Subordinated Notes upon Termination of Trust
 
  The Corporation will have the right to terminate the Trust at any time and,
after satisfaction of liabilities to the Trust's creditors, cause Series
Junior Subordinated Notes to be distributed to the holders of the Preferred
Securities in liquidation of the Trust. See "--Liquidation Distribution upon
Dissolution." This right is optional and wholly within the discretion of the
Corporation. Circumstances under which the Corporation may determine to
exercise this right could include the occurrence of an Investment Company Act
Event or a Tax Event, adverse tax consequences to the Corporation or the Trust
that are not within the definition of a Tax Event because they do not result
from an amendment or change described in such definition, and changes in the
accounting requirements applicable to the Preferred Securities as described
under "Accounting Treatment" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
 
                                      S-16

 
  If Series   Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed to the holders of the
Preferred Securities, the Corporation will use its best efforts to have the
Series   Junior Subordinated Notes listed on the New York Stock Exchange or
other exchange on which the Preferred Securities are then listed.
 
  After the date for any distribution of Series   Junior Subordinated Notes
upon termination of the Trust:
 
  . the Preferred Securities and the Guarantee will no longer be deemed to
    be outstanding;
 
  . the depositary or its nominee, as the record holder of the Preferred
    Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or certificates
    representing the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes to be delivered upon
    the distribution; and
 
  . any certificates representing Preferred Securities not held by the
    depositary or its nominee will be deemed to represent Series   Junior
    Subordinated Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the
    aggregate liquidation amount of such Preferred Securities, an interest
    rate identical to the rate at which cumulative cash dividends are
    payable on such Preferred Securities, and accrued and unpaid interest
    equal to accrued and unpaid distributions on such Preferred Securities,
    until the certificates are presented to the Corporation or its agent for
    transfer or reissuance.
 
  There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred
Securities or the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes that may be distributed in
exchange for the Preferred Securities if a termination and liquidation of the
Trust occurs. Accordingly, the Preferred Securities that an investor may
purchase, or the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes that the investor may
receive on termination and liquidation of the Trust, may trade at a discount to
the price that the investor paid to purchase the Preferred Securities.
 
Redemption Procedures
 
  If fewer than all the Trust Securities are to be redeemed, then the aggregate
liquidation amount of the Trust Securities to be redeemed will be allocated 97%
to the Preferred Securities and 3% to the Common Securities.
 
  The Preferred Securities redeemed on any redemption date will be redeemed at
the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption of
the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes. The Redemption Price of Preferred
Securities will be deemed payable on each redemption date only to the extent
that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available for payment of such
Redemption Price.
 
  If the Preferred Securities are in book-entry only form and the Property
Trustee gives a notice of redemption with respect to Preferred Securities
(which notice will be irrevocable), then, by 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on
the redemption date, subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, the
Property Trustee will irrevocably deposit with the securities depositary
sufficient funds to pay the applicable Redemption Price. See "--Book-Entry Only
Issuance--DTC" below. If the Preferred Securities are not in book-entry only
form, the Property Trustee, subject to the immediately preceding paragraph,
will irrevocably deposit with the paying agent funds sufficient to pay the
applicable Redemption Price and will give the paying agent irrevocable
instructions to pay the Redemption Price to the holders of the Preferred
Securities upon surrender of their Preferred
 
                                      S-17

 
Securities certificates. If notice of redemption has been given and funds
deposited as required, then immediately prior to the close of business on the
date of the deposit, distributions will cease to accrue and all rights of
holders of Preferred Securities called for redemption will cease, except the
right of the holders of those Preferred Securities to receive the Redemption
Price, but without interest on such Redemption Price. If the redemption date
for the redemption of Preferred Securities is not a Business Day, the
Redemption Price payable on that date will be paid on the next day that is a
Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such
delay), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, the
payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. If payment of
the Redemption Price for Preferred Securities is improperly withheld or refused
and not paid either by the Trust or by the Corporation under the Guarantee,
distributions on those Preferred Securities will continue to accrue at the then
applicable rate, from the redemption date originally established by the Trust
for those Preferred Securities to the date the Redemption Price is actually
paid. See "--Events of Default" below, "Relationship Among the Preferred
Securities, the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee" in this
Prospectus Supplement and "Description of the Guarantees--Events of Default" in
the accompanying Prospectus.
 
  Subject to the foregoing and to applicable law (including, without
limitation, United States federal securities laws), the Corporation or any of
its affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, purchase outstanding
Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
 
Book-Entry Only Issuance--DTC
 
  DTC will act as the initial securities depositary for the Preferred
Securities. The Preferred Securities will be issued only as fully registered
securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC's nominee. One or more
fully registered global Preferred Securities certificates will be issued,
representing in the aggregate the total number of Preferred Securities, and
will be deposited with DTC.
 
  DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking
Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a
member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the
meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency"
registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934. DTC holds securities that its participants ("Participants")
deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among Participants of
securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities
through electronic computerized book-entry changes in Participants' accounts,
thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates.
Direct Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust
companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations ("Direct
Participants"). DTC is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by the
New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange and the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC system is also
available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust
companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct
Participant, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The rules
applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the Commission.
 
                                      S-18

 
  Purchases of Preferred Securities within the DTC system must be made by or
through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the Preferred
Securities on DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of
Preferred Securities ("Beneficial Owner") is in turn to be recorded on the
Direct and Indirect Participants' records. Beneficial Owners will not receive
written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but Beneficial Owners are
expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions,
as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect
Participants through which the Beneficial Owners purchased Preferred
Securities. Transfers of ownership interests in the Preferred Securities are to
be accomplished by entries made on the books of Participants acting on behalf
of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates
representing their ownership interests in Preferred Securities, except in the
event that use of the book-entry system for the Preferred Securities is
discontinued.
 
  DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Preferred
Securities. DTC's records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants
to whose accounts such Preferred Securities are credited, which may or may not
be the Beneficial Owners. The Participants will remain responsible for keeping
account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
 
  Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants,
by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and
Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements
among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time.
 
  Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all the Preferred
Securities are being redeemed, DTC will reduce the amount of the interest of
each Direct Participant in the Preferred Securities in accordance with its
procedures.
 
  Although voting with respect to the Preferred Securities is limited, in those
cases where a vote is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself consent
or vote with respect to Preferred Securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC
would mail an Omnibus Proxy to the Trust as soon as possible after the record
date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to
those Direct Participants to whose accounts the Preferred Securities are
credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus
Proxy).
 
  Distributions, redemption proceeds and other payments in respect of the
Preferred Securities will be made to DTC. DTC's practice is to credit Direct
Participants' accounts on the relevant payment date in accordance with their
respective holdings shown on DTC's records unless DTC has reason to believe
that it will not receive payments on such payment date. Payments by
Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of
customers registered in "street name," and will be the responsibility of such
Participant and not of DTC, the Trust, any trustee or the Corporation, subject
to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to
time. Payment of distributions, redemption proceeds and other amounts to DTC is
the responsibility of the Trust, disbursement of such payments to Direct
Participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to
the Beneficial Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect
Participants.
 
  Except as provided herein, a Beneficial Owner in a global Preferred Security
will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Preferred Securities.
Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the
 
                                      S-19

 
procedures of DTC to exercise any rights under the Preferred Securities. The
laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take
physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the
ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global Preferred Security.
 
  DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with
respect to the Preferred Securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to
the Trust. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities
depositary is not obtained within 90 days, Preferred Securities certificates
will be printed and delivered to the holders of record. Additionally, the
Corporation may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers
through DTC (or a successor depositary) with respect to the Preferred
Securities. In that event, certificates for the Preferred Securities will be
printed and delivered to the holders of record.
 
  The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system
has been obtained from sources that the Corporation and the Trust believe to be
reliable, but the Corporation and the Trust take no responsibility for the
accuracy of such information. The Trust has no responsibility for the
performance by DTC or its Participants of their obligations as described in
this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus or under the rules
and procedures governing their respective operations.
 
Liquidation Distribution upon Dissolution
 
  Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Trust will terminate on      ,   , or
earlier upon:
 
  . the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event (as defined in the Trust Agreement)
    in respect of the Corporation, dissolution or liquidation of the
    Corporation, or dissolution of the Trust pursuant to a judicial decree;
 
  . the delivery of written direction to the Property Trustee by the
    Corporation, as depositor, at any time (which written direction is
    optional and wholly within the discretion of the Corporation, as
    depositor) to terminate the Trust and distribute the Series   Junior
    Subordinated Notes to the holders of the Preferred Securities and the
    Common Securities in liquidation of the Trust; or
 
  . the payment at maturity or redemption of all the Series   Junior
    Subordinated Notes, and the consequent payment of the Trust Securities.
 
  If an early termination occurs upon the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in
respect of the Corporation, dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation or
dissolution of the Trust pursuant to a judicial decree or upon the delivery of
the written direction to the Property Trustee that is described in the
preceding paragraph, then the Trust will be liquidated, and the Property
Trustee will distribute to each holder of Trust Securities, after the
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, a like principal amount
of Series   Junior Subordinated Notes, unless in the case of the occurrence of
a Bankruptcy Event in respect of the Corporation, dissolution or liquidation of
the Corporation or dissolution of the Trust pursuant to a judicial decree, the
Administrative Trustees determine such distribution not to be practical, in
which event such holders will be entitled to receive, out of the assets of the
Trust available for distribution to holders of the Trust Securities, after
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, an amount equal to the aggregate of
the liquidation amount of $   per Trust Security plus accrued and unpaid
distributions on such Trust Securities to the date of payment (such
 
                                      S-20

 
amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"). If the Liquidation Distribution
can only be partially paid because the Trust has insufficient assets available
to pay the aggregate Liquidation Distribution in full, then, subject to the
following sentence, the amounts payable by the Trust on the Trust Securities
will be paid on a pro rata basis. The holder of the Common Securities will be
entitled to receive payments upon any such dissolution pro rata with the
holders of the Preferred Securities, except that the Preferred Securities will
have a preference over the Common Securities if an Event of Default under the
Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the Series   Junior Subordinated
Notes has occurred and is continuing.
 
Events of Default
 
  Any one of the following events constitutes an "Event of Default" under the
Trust Agreement (whatever the reason for such Event of Default, and whether it
be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to
any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of
any administrative or governmental body):
 
  . the occurrence of an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note
    Indenture with respect to the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes (see
    "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Events of Default" in the
    accompanying Prospectus);
 
  . default by the Trust in the payment of any distribution when it becomes
    due and payable, and the continuation of such default for a period of 30
    days;
 
  . default by the Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price of any
    Preferred Security or Common Security when it becomes due and payable;
 
  . default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of
    the Securities Trustees in the Trust Agreement (other than a covenant or
    warranty a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is
    dealt with in one of the two immediately preceding Events of Default
    under the Trust Agreement), and continuance of such default or breach
    for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or
    certified mail, to the Securities Trustees by the holders of at least
    25% in liquidation amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities a
    written notice specifying the default or breach and requiring it to be
    remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" under the
    Trust Agreement, unless holders in liquidation amount of outstanding
    Preferred Securities not less than the liquidation amount of outstanding
    Preferred Securities the holders of which gave such notice, agree in
    writing to an extension of such period prior to its expiration;
    provided, however, that the holders of such liquidation amount of
    outstanding Preferred Securities will be deemed to have agreed to an
    extension of such period if corrective action is initiated by the
    Securities Trustees within such period and is being diligently pursued;
    or
 
  . the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with
    respect to the Trust.
 
  Within 90 days after a default occurs under the Trust Agreement, the Property
Trustee will transmit notice of any such default known to the Property Trustee
to the holders of Trust Securities, the Administrative Trustees and the
Corporation, unless the default has been cured or waived. For this purpose, the
term "default" means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or
both would become, an Event of Default under the Trust Agreement.
 
                                      S-21

 
  If an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to
the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes occurs and is continuing, then pursuant
to the Trust Agreement:
 
  . the holders of Preferred Securities will rely on the enforcement by the
    Property Trustee of its rights against the Corporation as the holder of
    the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes; and
 
  . the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the
    Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the time, method and
    place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
    Property Trustee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power
    conferred upon the Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement, including
    the right to direct the Property Trustee to exercise the remedies
    available to it as a holder of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes.
 
If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Series  Junior
Subordinated Notes, a holder of Preferred Securities may, to the extent
permitted by applicable law and as provided in the Trust Agreement, institute a
legal proceeding against the Corporation to enforce its rights under the Trust
Agreement without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property
Trustee or any other person or entity, including the Trust. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Corporation, without first instituting a legal proceeding
against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of
payment to such holder of principal of or interest on the Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation
amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates
specified in the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes. See "Relationship Among
the Preferred Securities, the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes and the
Guarantee" in this Prospectus Supplement and "Description of the Guarantees--
Events of Default" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
  Unless an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect
to the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes has occurred and is continuing, the
holder of the Common Securities may remove the Securities Trustees at any time.
If such an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the holders of a
majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities may remove the
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee by act of such holders delivered to
the appropriate Securities Trustee (in its individual capacity and on behalf of
the Trust). No resignation or removal of any Securities Trustee and no
appointment of a successor will be effective until the successor Trustee
accepts its appointment in accordance with the Trust Agreement.
 
  If an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to
the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes has occurred and is continuing, the
holders of Preferred Securities will have a preference over the holders of
Common Securities upon dissolution of the Trust as described above. See 
"--Liquidation Distribution upon Dissolution."
 
Voting Rights
 
  Except as described in "--Amendment of the Trust Agreement" in this
Prospectus Supplement, in "Description of the Guarantees--Amendments and
Assignment" in the accompanying Prospectus and in the immediately succeeding
paragraphs, and except as otherwise required by law and the Trust Agreement,
the holders of the Preferred Securities will have no voting rights.
 
 
                                      S-22

 
  So long as the Property Trustee holds any Series   Junior Subordinated Notes,
the Securities Trustees will not:
 
  . direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
    remedy available to the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, or executing any
    trust or power conferred on the Subordinated Indenture Trustee with
    respect to the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes;
 
  . consent to waive any past default which is waivable under Section 513 of
    the Subordinated Note Indenture;
 
  . exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal
    of all the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes will be due and payable;
    or
 
  . consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the
    Subordinated Note Indenture or the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes,
    where such consent is required, or to any other action, as the holder of
    the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes, under the Subordinated Note
    Indenture,
 
without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the holders of at least
66 2/3% in liquidation amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities, except
that where a consent under the Subordinated Note Indenture requires the consent
of each holder of Series   Junior Subordinated Notes affected, the Securities
Trustees will not give such consent without the prior consent of each such
holder of Preferred Securities. The Securities Trustees will not revoke any
action that a vote of the holders of the Preferred Securities has previously
authorized or approved, except pursuant to a subsequent vote of such holders.
 
  The Property Trustee will notify all holders of the Preferred Securities of
any notice of default that it receives from the Subordinated Indenture Trustee
with respect to the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes.
 
  If any proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement provides for, or the
Securities Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (1) any action that would
adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Preferred
Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Trust Agreement or otherwise, or
(2) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than
pursuant to the Trust Agreement, then the holders of outstanding Preferred
Securities will be entitled to vote as a class on such amendment or proposal.
The approval of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in liquidation amount of the
outstanding Preferred Securities will be required in order for such amendment
or proposal to be effective.
 
  Holders of Preferred Securities may give any required approval at a separate
meeting of holders of Preferred Securities convened for that purpose or may
give any required approval by written consent. The Administrative Trustees will
cause a notice of any meeting at which holders of Preferred Securities are
entitled to vote to be given to each holder of record of Preferred Securities
in the manner set forth in the Trust Agreement.
 
  Any Preferred Securities that the Corporation, the Administrative Trustees or
any affiliate of the Corporation or any Administrative Trustee owns, whether of
record or beneficially, will be treated as if those Preferred Securities were
not outstanding for purposes of such vote or consent.
 
 
                                      S-23

 
Co-Property Trustees and Separate Property Trustee
 
  At any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the
Trust Property may be located, the holder of the Common Securities and the
Property Trustee will have power to appoint one or more persons approved by the
Property Trustee either to act as co-property trustee, jointly with the
Property Trustee, of all or any part of the Trust Property, or to act as
separate trustee of any such property, in either case with such powers as may
be provided in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such person or
persons in such capacity, any property, title, right or power deemed necessary
or desirable, subject to the provisions of the Trust Agreement. Upon the
written request of the Property Trustee, the Corporation, as depositor, will
join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery and performance of
all instruments and agreements necessary or proper for the appointment. If the
Corporation, as depositor, does not join in the appointment within 15 days
after it receives a request to do so, or in case an Event of Default under the
Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the Series   Junior Subordinated
Notes has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone will have
power to make the appointment.
 
Amendment of the Trust Agreement
 
  The Corporation and the Securities Trustees may amend the Trust Agreement
from time to time without the consent of the holders of the Trust Securities:
 
  . to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision which may be
    inconsistent with any other provision of the Trust Agreement, or to make
    any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under
    the Trust Agreement, which shall not be inconsistent with the other
    provisions of the Trust Agreement; provided that the amendment does not
    adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any holder of
    Trust Securities; or
 
  . to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the Trust Agreement to
    such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will not be
    classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal
    income tax purposes.
 
Except as provided in the next paragraph, other amendments to the Trust
Agreement may be made if (1) the holders of 66 2/3% in aggregate liquidation
amount of the Trust Securities then outstanding approve any such amendment and
(2) the Securities Trustees receive an opinion of counsel to the effect that
such amendment will not affect the Trust's status as a grantor trust or the
Trust's exemption from the Investment Company Act of 1940.
 
  The consent of each affected holder of Trust Securities will be required,
however, to amend the Trust Agreement to:
 
  . change the amount or timing of any distribution (or any payment upon
    redemption) on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the
    amount of any distribution (or any payment upon redemption) required to
    be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date;
 
  . restrict the right of a holder of Trust Securities to institute suit for
    the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date;
 
  . change the purpose of the Trust;
 
  . authorize the issuance of any additional beneficial interests in the
    Trust; or
 
                                      S-24

 
  . change the consent required to amend the Trust Agreement.
 
Mergers, Consolidations or Amalgamations
 
  The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into any corporation
or other entity, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties
and assets substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other entity,
except as described below. The Trust may, at the request of the Corporation,
with the consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the
holders of the Trust Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into,
or be replaced by a trust organized as such under the laws of any state;
provided that:
 
  . the successor entity either (1) expressly assumes all the Trust's
    obligations with respect to the Trust Securities or (2) substitutes for
    the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the same
    terms as the Trust Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as
    the Successor Securities rank the same as the Trust Securities rank in
    priority with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation,
    redemption and otherwise;
 
  . the Corporation expressly appoints a trustee of such successor entity
    possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the
    holder of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes;
 
  . the Preferred Securities or any Successor Securities are listed, or any
    Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on
    any national securities exchange or other organization on which the
    Preferred Securities are then listed;
 
  . the consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement does not cause
    the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be
    downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization;
 
  . the consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement does not
    adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders
    of the Trust Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any
    material respect;
 
  . the successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of
    the Trust;
 
  . prior to the consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement, the
    Corporation and the Property Trustee have received an opinion of counsel
    to the effect that (1) the consolidation, amalgamation, merger or
    replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and
    privileges of the holders of the Trust Securities (including any
    Successor Securities) in any material respect, and (2) following the
    consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement, neither the Trust
    nor the successor entity will be required to register as an "investment
    company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940; and
 
  . the Corporation owns all the common securities of the successor entity
    and guarantees the obligations of the successor entity with respect to
    the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the
    Guarantee.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with the consent of
holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the Trust Securities, consolidate,
amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any other entity or permit
any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it
if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement would cause the
Trust
 
                                      S-25

 
or the successor entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for
United States federal income tax purposes.
 
  Any corporation or other entity into which the Property Trustee, the Delaware
Trustee or any Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person may be
merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or
other entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which
any Securities Trustee is a party, or any corporation or other entity
succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of any
Securities Trustee, will be the successor of such Securities Trustee under the
Trust Agreement; provided that such corporation or other entity is otherwise
qualified and eligible.
 
Payment and Paying Agent
 
  So long as DTC is acting as securities depositary for the Preferred
Securities, payments on the Preferred Securities will be made to DTC, which
will credit the relevant accounts at DTC on the applicable Distribution Dates.
If the Preferred Securities are no longer held by DTC, such payments will be
made by check mailed to the address of the holder entitled to the payment as
such address appears in the Security Register (as defined in the Trust
Agreement). The paying agent will initially be the Property Trustee. The paying
agent will be permitted to resign as paying agent upon 30 days' written notice
to the Administrative Trustees and the Corporation. Upon such resignation, the
Administrative Trustees will appoint a successor to act as paying agent.
 
Registrar and Transfer Agent
 
  It is anticipated that the Property Trustee, or one of its affiliates, will
act as registrar and transfer agent for the Preferred Securities.
 
  Registration of transfers of Preferred Securities will be effected without
charge by or on behalf of the Trust, but upon payment in respect of any tax or
other governmental charges which may be imposed in relation to it.
 
  The registrar and transfer agent for the Preferred Securities will not be
required to register or cause to be registered any transfer of Preferred
Securities that have been called for redemption.
 
Information Concerning the Property Trustee
 
  Prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default under the Trust Agreement, the
Property Trustee undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically
set forth in the Trust Agreement and, after default, will exercise the same
degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or
her own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Property Trustee is under no
obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Trust Agreement at
the request of any holder of Preferred Securities, unless offered reasonable
indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which the
Property Trustee might incur as a result.
 
  The Chase Manhattan Bank, which is the Property Trustee, also serves as
Subordinated Indenture Trustee and as Guarantee Trustee. The Chase Manhattan
Bank also serves as Trustee under the Corporation's Senior Note Indenture. The
Corporation and certain of its affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking
relationships with The Chase Manhattan Bank.
 
                                      S-26

 
Governing Law
 
  The Trust Agreement and the Trust Securities will be governed by the internal
laws of the State of Delaware, except that New York law will govern the
immunities and standard of care of the Property Trustee.
 
Miscellaneous
 
  The Trust Agreement authorizes and directs the Administrative Trustees to
operate the Trust so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment
company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or
taxed as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes. The Trust Agreement also authorizes and directs the Administrative
Trustees to operate the Trust so that the Series  Junior Subordinated Notes will
be treated as indebtedness of the Corporation for United States federal income
tax purposes. In such connection, the Administrative Trustees and the
Corporation are authorized to take any action that is not inconsistent with
applicable law, the Trust's certificate of trust or the Trust Agreement, that
the Administrative Trustees and the Corporation determine in their discretion
to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as the action does not
materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Preferred
Securities.
 
             DESCRIPTION OF THE SERIES   JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
 
  A description of the terms of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes is set
forth below. This description supplements, and should be read together with,
the description of the general terms and provisions of the Junior Subordinated
Notes set forth in the accompanying Prospectus under "Description of the Junior
Subordinated Notes." The following description does not purport to be complete
and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the
description in the accompanying Prospectus and the Subordinated Note Indenture.
Certain capitalized terms used in this description are defined in the
Subordinated Note Indenture.
 
General
 
  The Corporation will issue the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes as a series
of Junior Subordinated Notes under the Subordinated Note Indenture. The Series
  Junior Subordinated Notes will be limited in aggregate principal amount to
$  , which is the aggregate liquidation amount of the Trust Securities.
 
  The entire principal amount of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes will
mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid
interest thereon (including any Additional Interest (as defined under 
"--Additional Interest" below)), on          ,    . The Series   Junior 
Subordinated Notes are not subject to any sinking fund provision.
 
  The interest rate and interest and other payment dates of the Series  Junior
Subordinated Notes will correspond to those of the Preferred Securities as
described in this Prospectus Supplement.
 
  The Series   Junior Subordinated Notes will rank equal in priority with the
other series of Junior Subordinated Notes issued under the Subordinated Note
Indenture.
 
                                      S-27

 
Optional Redemption
 
  The Corporation will have the right to redeem the Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, without premium, from time to time, on
or after      ,   , or at any time, in whole, within 90 days after a Special
Event (as described in "Description of the Preferred Securities--Special Event
Redemption or Distribution") occurs, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60
days' notice, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be
redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional
Interest) to the redemption date. If a partial redemption of the Series
Junior Subordinated Notes would result in the delisting of the Preferred
Securities, the Corporation may redeem the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes
only in whole.
 
Interest
 
  Each Series   Junior Subordinated Note will bear interest at an annual rate
of   % from the date of original issuance, payable, unless deferred, quarterly
in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year,
commencing on      ,   . Such interest will be payable to the person in whose
name such Series  Junior Subordinated Note is registered at the close of
business on the fifteenth calendar day prior to such interest payment date,
except that interest payable on the stated maturity of principal of the Series
Junior Subordinated Notes or on a redemption date will be paid to the person to
whom principal is payable. The amount of interest payable will be computed on
the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. If any date on which
interest is payable on the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes is not a Business
Day, the interest payable on such date will be paid on the next day that is a
Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such
delay), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such
interest will be paid on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case
with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was
originally payable.
 
Option to Extend Interest Payment Period
 
  The Corporation will have the right at any time, and from time to time, to
defer payments of interest on the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes by
extending the interest payment period for up to 20 consecutive quarters, but
not beyond the maturity date. When an Extension Period has terminated, the
Corporation will pay all interest then accrued and unpaid (including any
Additional Interest) on the next interest payment date. Prior to the
termination of any Extension Period, the Corporation may further defer payments
of interest by extending the interest payment period, except that such
Extension Period, together with all such previous and further extensions
thereof, may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters. During an Extension Period,
the Corporation will have the right to make partial payments of interest on any
interest payment date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the
payment of all amounts then due, the Corporation may select a new Extension
Period, subject to the previously mentioned requirements. The Corporation has
no present intention of exercising its right to defer payments of interest by
extending the interest payment period on the Series  Junior Subordinated Notes.
 
 
                                      S-28

 
  The Corporation will give the holder or holders of the Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes and the Subordinated Indenture Trustee notice of its
selection or extension of an Extension Period at least one Business Day prior
to the earlier of:
 
 
  . the record date relating to the interest payment date on which the
    Extension Period is to commence or relating to the interest payment date
    on which an Extension Period that is being extended would otherwise
    terminate; or
 
  . the date the Corporation or the Trust is required to give notice to the
    New York Stock Exchange or other applicable self-regulatory organization
    of the record date or the date such distributions are payable.
 
Additional Interest
 
  "Additional Interest" with respect to the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes
is defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture as (1) such additional amounts as
may be required so that the net amounts received and retained by a holder of
Series   Junior Subordinated Notes (if the holder is the Trust) after paying
taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (other
than withholding taxes) imposed by the United States or any other taxing
authority will not be less than the amounts the holder would have received had
no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges been imposed;
and (2) such interest as shall accrue on interest due and not paid on an
interest payment date, accruing at an annual rate of % from the applicable
interest payment date to the date of payment, compounded quarterly, on each
interest payment date, to the extent permitted by applicable law.
 
Certain Covenants
 
  The Corporation covenants in the Subordinated Note Indenture, for the benefit
of the holders of Series   Junior Subordinated Notes and the holders of the
Preferred Securities, that, (1) if the Corporation has given notice of its
election to extend an interest payment period for the Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes and such extension is continuing or (2) if an Event of
Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the Series
Junior Subordinated Notes has occurred and is continuing, (x) the Corporation
will not declare or pay any dividend or make any distributions with respect to,
or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any
of its capital stock, and (y) the Corporation will not make any payment of
interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities (including guarantees other than the Guarantee) issued by the
Corporation which rank equal in priority with or junior to the Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes. These covenants, however, shall not restrict (1) any of the
actions described in the preceding sentence resulting from any reclassification
of the Corporation's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class
or series of the Corporation's capital stock for another class or series of the
Corporation's capital stock or (2) dividends or distributions in capital stock
of the Corporation.
 
  The Corporation also covenants in the Subordinated Note Indenture that, for
so long as the Trust Securities remain outstanding, the Corporation will (1)
directly or indirectly maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities of the
Trust (provided, however, that any successor of the Corporation permitted under
the Subordinated Note Indenture may succeed to the Corporation's
 
                                      S-29

 
ownership of the Common Securities) and (2) use its reasonable efforts to cause
the Trust (x) to remain a statutory business trust, except in connection with
the distribution of Series   Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of Trust
Securities in liquidation of such Trust, the redemption of all the Trust
Securities of the Trust, or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations,
each as permitted by the Trust Agreement, and (y) to otherwise continue to be
classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
 
Book-Entry and Issuance
 
  The Series   Junior Subordinated Notes are expected to be issued in the form
of one or more global certificates registered in the name of the securities
depositary or its nominee if distributed to holders of Trust Securities in
connection with the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or
liquidation of the Trust. In such event, the procedures applicable to the
transfer and payment of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes are expected to
be substantially similar to those described with respect to the Preferred
Securities in "Description of the Preferred Securities--Book-Entry Only
Issuance--DTC."
 
Denominations
 
  The Series   Junior Subordinated Notes will be issuable in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $   or any integral multiples of $  .
 
Defeasance
 
  The Series   Junior Subordinated Notes will be subject to Defeasance as
described in the Subordinated Note Indenture. See "Description of the Junior
Subordinated Notes--Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance" in the accompanying
Prospectus.
 
  Under current United States federal income tax laws, Defeasance would be
treated as an exchange of the relevant Series   Junior Subordinated Notes in
which holders of such Series   Junior Subordinated Notes might recognize gain
or loss. In addition, the amount, timing and character of amounts that holders
would be required thereafter to include in income might be different from that
which would be includible in the absence of such Defeasance. Prospective
investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors as to the specific
consequences of a Defeasance, including the applicability and effect of tax
laws other than United States federal income tax laws.
 
  The Series   Junior Subordinated Notes will not be subject to Covenant
Defeasance as described in the Subordinated Note Indenture. See "Description of
the Junior Subordinated Notes--Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
 
Miscellaneous
 
  The Corporation will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights
or obligations under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the Series
  Junior Subordinated Notes to one of its direct or indirect wholly owned
subsidiaries; provided that the Corporation will remain primarily liable for
the performance of all such obligations in the event of any such assignment.
 
 
                                      S-30

 
                  RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PREFERRED SECURITIES,
            THE SERIES   JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES AND THE GUARANTEE
 
  As long as payments of interest and other payments on the Series  Junior
Subordinated Notes are made when due, those payments will be sufficient to
cover distributions and payments due on the Trust Securities primarily because:
 
  . the aggregate principal amount of Series  Junior Subordinated Notes will
    be equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Trust Securities;
 
  . the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on the Series
    Junior Subordinated Notes will correspond to the distribution rate and
    distribution and other payment dates for the Preferred Securities;
 
  . the Corporation will pay for all costs and expenses of the Trust
    pursuant to the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities between the
    Corporation and the Trust; and
 
  .  the Trust Agreement provides that the Securities Trustees will not
     cause or permit the Trust to, among other things, engage in any
     activity that is not consistent with the purposes of the Trust.
 
  The Corporation will guarantee payments of distributions and other payments
due on the Preferred Securities (in each case to the extent funds are legally
and immediately available therefor) as and to the extent set forth under
"Description of the Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus. If the
Corporation does not make the required payments on the Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes, it is not expected that the Trust will have sufficient
funds to make the related distributions on the Preferred Securities. The
Guarantee is a guarantee from the time of its issuance, but does not apply to
any payment of distributions unless and until the Trust has sufficient funds
legally and immediately available for the payment of such distributions.
 
  If an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to
the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes occurs and is continuing, then:
 
  . the holders of Preferred Securities will rely on the enforcement by the
    Property Trustee of its rights against the Corporation as the holder of
    the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes; and
 
  . the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the
    Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the time, method and
    place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
    Property Trustee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power
    conferred upon the Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement, including
    the right to direct the Property Trustee to exercise the remedies
    available to it as a holder of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes.
 
  If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Series  Junior
Subordinated Notes, a holder of Preferred Securities may, to the extent
permitted by applicable law and as provided in the Trust Agreement, institute a
legal proceeding against the Corporation to enforce its rights under the Trust
Agreement without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property
Trustee or any other person or entity, including the Trust. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Corporation, without first instituting a legal proceeding
against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of
 
                                      S-31

 
payment to such holder of principal of or interest on the Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation
amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates
specified in the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes. The Trust Agreement also
provides a mechanism whereby the holders of Preferred Securities may appoint a
substitute Property Trustee if an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note
Indenture with respect to the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes occurs and is
continuing.
 
  If the Corporation fails to make payments under the Guarantee, the Guarantee
provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the Preferred Securities may direct
the Guarantee Trustee to enforce its rights under the Guarantee. In addition,
any holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Corporation to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee or any other
person or entity.
 
  The Guarantee, the Subordinated Note Indenture, the Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes, the Trust Agreement and the Agreement as to Expenses and
Liabilities between the Corporation and the Trust, as described above, provide
a full and unconditional guarantee, subject to certain subordination
provisions, by the Corporation of the payments due on the Preferred Securities.
 
  The holders of Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive, out of
assets legally available for distribution to holders, the Liquidation
Distribution in cash upon any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up
or termination of the Trust unless the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes are
distributed in connection therewith. See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Liquidation Distribution upon Dissolution." Upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy of the Corporation, the Property Trustee,
as holder of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes, would be a subordinated
creditor of the Corporation, subordinated in right of payment to all Senior
Indebtedness, but entitled to receive payment in full of principal and interest
before the shareholder of the Corporation receives payments or distributions.
Because the Corporation is guarantor under the Guarantee and has agreed to pay
for all costs, expenses and liabilities of the Trust (other than the Trust's
obligations to holders of the Preferred Securities) under the Agreement as to
Expenses and Liabilities between the Corporation and the Trust, the positions
of a holder of Preferred Securities and a holder of Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes relative to other creditors and the shareholder of the
Corporation in the event of liquidation or bankruptcy of the Corporation would
be substantially the same.
 
  A default or event of default under any Senior Indebtedness would not
constitute a default or an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note
Indenture with respect to the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes. However, in
the event of a default with respect to Senior Indebtedness or the acceleration
of Senior Indebtedness, the subordination provisions of the Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes provide that no payments may be made in respect of the
Series   Junior Subordinated Notes:
 
  . until such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full (in the case of any
    payment by, or distribution of assets of, the Corporation to creditors
    upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the
    Corporation); or
 
  . until all amounts due on such Senior Indebtedness have been paid (in the
    case of a payment default thereunder (beyond any period of grace) or the
    acceleration of the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness because of a
    default with respect to such Senior Indebtedness).
 
                                      S-32

 
  Failure to make required payments on the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes
would (with the lapse of time, in the case of defaults in the payment of
interest) constitute an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture
with respect to the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes, except that failure to
make interest payments on the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes will not be
such an Event of Default during an Extension Period.
 
                   MATERIAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
 
  The following is the opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP, counsel to the
Corporation and the Trust, as to the material United States income tax
consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Preferred
Securities, insofar as it relates to matters of law and legal conclusions. This
discussion deals only with Preferred Securities held as capital assets within
the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended to the date hereof
(the "Code"), by Holders (as defined herein) that acquire Preferred Securities
on their original issue at their original offering price. Moreover, it does not
include all of the tax consequences that may be important to a Holder in light
of the Holder's particular circumstances or to Holders subject to special
rules, such as certain financial institutions, real estate investment trusts,
regulated investment companies, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations,
dealers in securities or currencies, individual retirement and certain tax
deferred accounts, and persons who engage in a straddle or a hedge relating to
a Preferred Security. Prospective investors should consult their own tax
advisors with regard to the application of the tax considerations discussed
below to their particular situations as well as the application of any state,
local or other tax laws. This discussion is based on laws, existing and
proposed regulations, and applicable judicial and administrative
determinations, all of which are subject to change at any time, and any such
changes may be retroactively applied in a manner that could adversely affect
Holders. As used herein, the term "Holder" means a beneficial owner of a
Preferred Security that for United States federal income tax purposes is (1) a
citizen or resident of the United States, (2) a corporation, partnership or
other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or
of any political subdivision thereof, (3) an estate the income of which is
subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source and
(4) a trust if (a) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary
supervision over the administration of the trust and (b) one or more U.S.
persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.
The following discussion does not address any tax consequences that apply
specifically to nonresident aliens or foreign entities.
 
Treatment of the Trust and Preferred Securities for Federal Income Tax Purposes
 
  The Trust will be treated as a "grantor trust" and not as an association
taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Thus, for federal
income tax purposes, each Holder will be treated as the beneficial owner of a
pro rata undivided interest in the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes and,
consequently, will be required to include in income the Holder's pro rata share
of the entire income from the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes. Each Holder
generally will determine its net income or loss with respect to the Trust in
accordance with its own method of accounting, although income arising from
original issue discount, if any, must be taken into account under the accrual
method of accounting even if the Holder otherwise would use the cash receipts
and disbursements method.
 
 
                                      S-33

 
Original Issue Discount
 
  Under applicable income tax regulations, the Corporation believes that the
Series   Junior Subordinated Notes will not be treated as issued with original
issue discount. It should be noted that these regulations have not yet been
addressed in any rulings or other interpretations by the Internal Revenue
Service. Accordingly, it is possible that the Internal Revenue Service could
take a position contrary to the interpretations described herein. Should the
Corporation exercise its option to defer payments of interest, the Series
Junior Subordinated Notes would at that time be treated as issued with original
issue discount, and all the stated interest payments on the Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes would thereafter be treated as original issue discount for
so long as they remained outstanding. As a result, all Holders would, in
effect, be required to accrue interest income even if such Holders are on a
cash method of accounting. Consequently, in the event that the payment of
interest is deferred, a Holder could be required to include original issue
discount in income on an economic accrual basis, notwithstanding that the
Corporation will not make any interest payments during such period on the
Series   Junior Subordinated Notes.
 
  Because income on the Preferred Securities will constitute interest or
original issue discount, corporate Holders will not be entitled to a dividends-
received deduction with respect to any income recognized with respect to the
Preferred Securities.
 
Sale of Preferred Securities
 
  Upon the sale, retirement (including redemption) or other taxable disposition
of all or part of a Preferred Security, a Holder thereof will recognize gain or
loss equal to the difference between the
amount realized on such sale, retirement or other disposition and such Holder's
adjusted tax basis in the Preferred Security or part thereof. If the Holder
disposes of a Preferred Security prior to the occurrence of an Extension
Period, any portion of the amount received that is attributable to accrued
interest will be treated as interest income to the Holder and will not be
treated as part of the amount realized for purposes of determining gain or loss
on the disposition of the Preferred Security. Any recognized gain or loss will
be capital gain or loss, and such capital gain or loss will be long-term if the
holding period for the Preferred Security is more than one year at the time of
sale, retirement or other disposition. In the case of a Holder that is an
individual, estate or trust, "net capital gain," i.e., the excess of net long-
term capital gain over net short-term capital loss, is generally subject to a
reduced rate of federal income tax. A Holder's adjusted tax basis in a
Preferred Security acquired by purchase will generally equal the cost of such
Preferred Security to the Holder, increased by the amount of any related
accrued original issue discount included in taxable income by the Holder and
reduced by any prior payments on the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes
distributed with respect to the Preferred Security. The redemption of only part
of a Preferred Security will require an allocation of the Holder's pro rata
share of the adjusted issue price of the related Series   Junior Subordinated
Notes between the portion of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes redeemed
and the portion retained by the Holder in order to determine gain or loss.
 
Receipt of Series   Junior Subordinated Notes upon Liquidation of the Trust
 
  As described under "Description of the Preferred Securities--Distribution of
Series   Junior Subordinated Notes upon Termination of Trust," Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes may be distributed to Holders in exchange for the Preferred
Securities and in liquidation of the Trust. Such a
 
                                      S-34

 
distribution would be treated as a non-taxable event to each Holder, and each
Holder would receive an aggregate tax basis in the Holder's Series  Junior
Subordinated Notes equal to the Holder's aggregate tax basis in its Preferred
Securities. A Holder's holding period with respect to the Series Junior
Subordinated Notes so received in liquidation of the Trust would include the
period for which the Preferred Securities were held by such Holder.
 
  If, however, the Trust is characterized for United States federal income tax
purposes as an association taxable as a corporation at the time of its
dissolution, the distribution of the Series  Junior Subordinated Notes would
constitute a taxable event to Holders of Preferred Securities, and a Holder's
holding period in Series   Junior Subordinated Notes would begin on the date
such Series   Junior Subordinated Notes were received.
 
Information Reporting to Holders
 
  Income on the Preferred Securities will be reported to Holders on Form 1099,
which form should be mailed to Holders of Preferred Securities by January 31
following each calendar year.
 
Backup Withholding
 
  A Holder may be subject to "backup withholding" under certain circumstances.
Backup withholding applies to a Holder if the Holder, among other things, (1)
fails to furnish his social security number or other taxpayer identification
number ("TIN") to the payor responsible for backup withholding (for example,
the Holder's securities broker), (2) furnishes such payor an incorrect TIN, (3)
fails to provide such payor with a certified statement, signed under penalties
of perjury, that the TIN provided to the payor is correct and that the Holder
is not subject to backup withholding or (4) fails to report properly interest
and dividends on his tax return. Backup withholding, however, does not apply to
payments made to certain exempt recipients, such as corporations and tax-exempt
organizations. The backup withholding rate is 31% of "reportable payments,"
which generally will include distributions of interest and principal payments
on the Series  Junior Subordinated Notes and payment of the proceeds from the
disposition of Preferred Securities. Any amount withheld from a Holder under
the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against
such Holder's United States federal income tax liability, provided the required
information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
 
  The federal income tax discussion set forth above may not be applicable to a
holder, depending upon a holder's particular situation, and therefore each
holder should consult his tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences of
the ownership and disposition of Preferred Securities, including the tax
consequences under state, local, foreign and other tax laws and the possible
effects of changes in federal or other tax law.
 
                                      S-35

 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an Underwriting Agreement,
the Trust has agreed to sell to each of the Underwriters named below, and each
of such Underwriters, for whom       ,      and       are acting as
Representatives, has severally agreed to purchase, the number of Preferred
Securities set forth opposite their respective names below. In the Underwriting
Agreement, the Underwriters have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions
set forth therein, to purchase all of the Preferred Securities offered hereby
if any of the Preferred Securities are purchased.
 


                                                                 Number of
      Underwriter                                           Preferred Securities
      -----------                                           --------------------
                                                         


















 
 
                                                                    ----
        Total..............................................
                                                                    ====

 
  In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred Securities
will ultimately be used to purchase Series   Junior Subordinated Notes, the
Underwriting Agreement provides that the Corporation will pay as compensation
to the Underwriters $     per Preferred Security for the accounts of the
several Underwriters ($        in the aggregate).
 
  The Underwriters have advised the Corporation and the Trust that they propose
to offer the Preferred Securities in part directly to the public at the initial
public offering price, as set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus
Supplement, and in part to certain securities dealers at such price less a
concession not in excess of $   per Preferred Security. The Underwriters may
allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess of $   per
Preferred Security to certain other dealers. After the Preferred Securities are
released for sale to the public, the offering price and other selling terms may
from time to time be varied by the Representatives.
 
  The Preferred Securities are expected to be approved for listing on the New
York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance. Trading of the
Preferred Securities on the New York Stock Exchange is expected to commence
within a 30-day period after the initial delivery of the Preferred Securities.
The Representatives have advised the Corporation and the Trust that they intend
to make a market in the Preferred Securities prior to the commencement of
trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The Representatives will have no
obligation to make a market in the Preferred Securities, however, and may cease
market-making activities, if commenced, at any time.
 
  Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Preferred
Securities. In order to meet one of the requirements for listing the Preferred
Securities on the New York Stock Exchange, the Underwriters will undertake to
sell lots of 100 or more Preferred Securities to a minimum of 400 beneficial
holders.
 
                                      S-36

 
  In connection with the offering, the Underwriters may purchase and sell the
Preferred Securities in the open market. These transactions may include over-
allotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short
positions created in connection with the offering. Stabilizing transactions
consist of certain bids or purchases for the purpose of preventing or retarding
a decline in the market price of the Preferred Securities; and syndicate short
positions involve the sale by the Underwriters of a greater number of Preferred
Securities than they are required to purchase from the Trust in the offering.
The Underwriters also may impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions
allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers in respect of the
securities sold in the offering for their account may be reclaimed by the
syndicate if such Preferred Securities are repurchased by the syndicate in
stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain
or otherwise affect the market price of the Preferred Securities, which may be
higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market; and
these activities, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. These
transactions may be effected on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-
counter market or otherwise.
 
  The Corporation and the Trust have agreed, during the period of    days from
the date of the Underwriting Agreement, not to sell, offer to sell, grant any
option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of any Preferred Securities, any
security convertible into or exchangeable for the Preferred Securities or the
Series   Junior Subordinated Notes or any debt securities substantially similar
to the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes or equity securities substantially
similar to the Preferred Securities (except for the Series   Junior
Subordinated Notes and the Preferred Securities issued pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement), without the prior written consent of the
Representatives.
 
  The Corporation and the Trust have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of
1933.
 
  The Corporation estimates that it will spend approximately $       for
printing, rating agency fees, trustees' fees, legal fees and other expenses of
the offering.
 
  In the course of their respective businesses, the Underwriters and their
affiliates have engaged, and will in the future engage, in investment banking
transactions with the Corporation and certain of its affiliates.
 
                           VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES
 
  Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware, special Delaware
counsel to the Corporation and the Trust, will pass upon certain matters of
Delaware law relating to the validity of the Preferred Securities on behalf of
the Corporation and the Trust. Dewey Ballantine LLP, New York, New York, will
pass upon the validity of the Series   Junior Subordinated Notes, the Guarantee
and certain related matters as well as certain matters relating to United
States federal income tax considerations on behalf of the Corporation. Sullivan
& Cromwell, New York, New York, will pass upon the validity of the Series
Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee for the Underwriters.
 
                                      S-37

 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may +
+not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the     +
+Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an    +
+offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these +
+securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.             +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated        , 1999)
 
                   Subject to Completion dated        , 1999
 
                                  $[        ]
 
                            Duke Capital Corporation
                    a subsidiary of Duke Energy Corporation
 
                        Series    % Senior Notes due
 
                                  ----------
 
  The Corporation will pay interest on the Series   Senior Notes on        and
      of each year. The first interest payment will be made on      ,   .
The Series   Senior Notes will mature on      ,    and are redeemable at the
option of the Corporation at any time at a redemption price determined by using
the formula set forth in this Prospectus Supplement. See "Description of the
Series   Senior Notes--Redemption at the Option of the Corporation."
 
  The Series   Senior Notes are unsecured and rank equally with all other
unsecured senior indebtedness of the Corporation. The Corporation will issue
the Series   Senior Notes only in registered form in denominations of $
and integral multiples of $     .
 
 


                                                              Per Series
                                                              Senior Note  Total
                                                              ------------ -----
                                                                     
Initial Public Offering Price (1)............................
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions.......................
Proceeds, before expenses, to the Corporation................

- -----
(1) Purchasers will also be required to pay accrued interest from     ,    , if
    settlement occurs after that date.
 
 
  Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the
adequacy or accuracy of this Prospectus Supplement or the accompanying
Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
  The underwriters are severally underwriting the Series   Senior Notes. The
underwriters expect to deliver the Series   Senior Notes in book-entry only
form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company against payment in
New York, New York on     ,   .
 
 
                                  ----------
 
                            [Names of Underwriters]
 
                                  ----------
 
                     Prospectus Supplement dated      ,   .

 
  You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. We
have not, and the Underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide
you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or
inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the
Underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any
jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that
the information appearing in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying
Prospectus is accurate as of the date on the front of the documents only. Our
business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have
changed since that date.
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 


                           PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
                                                                         
Forward-Looking Statements.................................................  S-3
Recent Developments........................................................  S-4
Description of the Series      Senior Notes................................  S-5
Underwriting............................................................... S-10
Validity of the Securities................................................. S-11
                                PROSPECTUS
Where to Find More Information.............................................    2
Duke Capital Corporation...................................................    4
The Trusts.................................................................    9
Use of Proceeds............................................................   10
Description of the Senior Notes............................................   11
Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes...............................   23
Description of the Preferred Securities....................................   33
Description of the Guarantees..............................................   34
Accounting Treatment.......................................................   37
Plan of Distribution.......................................................   37
Validity of the Securities.................................................   38
Experts....................................................................   38

 
                                      S-2

 
                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus include forward-
looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We caution
investors and prospective investors that there are a number of forward-looking
statements contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement
and the accompanying Prospectus. These forward-looking statements may include
statements about the expected revenues, earnings, capital expenditures,
resolution and impact of litigation, competitive performance, or other
prospects for the business of Duke Capital Corporation (the "Corporation") and
its subsidiaries or their affiliated companies, and include any and all
assumptions that underlie the forward-looking statements and other statements
that are other than statements of historical fact. Actual outcomes and results
are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those projected. Factors
that could cause forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include, but are
not limited to:
 
    . state and federal legislative and regulatory initiatives
      that affect cost and investment recovery, have an impact
      on rate structures, and affect the speed and degree to
      which competition enters the electric and natural gas
      industries;
 
    . industrial, commercial and residential growth in the
      service territories of the Corporation and its
      subsidiaries;
 
    . the weather and other natural phenomena;
 
    . the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices and
      interest rates;
 
    . changes in environmental and other laws and regulations
      to which the Corporation and its subsidiaries are
      subject or other external factors over which the
      Corporation has no control;
 
    . the results of financing efforts;
 
    . growth in opportunities for the Corporation's
      subsidiaries;
 
    . achievement of Year 2000 readiness; and
 
    . the effect of the Corporation's accounting policies.
 
In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking
events discussed in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus
might not occur. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements or this discussion of some of the factors that could
cause actual results to differ, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
 
                                      S-3

 
                              RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
RECENT INCOME STATEMENT DATA
 
  The following table presents unaudited income statement data for the year
ended December 31, 1998, which data should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements, the notes thereto and the other information
contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the
accompanying Prospectus.
 


                                                                     (DOLLARS
                                                                   IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                   -------------
                                                                
      Operating Revenues..........................................  $13,059,000
      Operating Expenses..........................................   12,023,000
       Operating Income...........................................    1,036,000
      Other Income, Net...........................................      101,000
      Earnings Before Interest and Taxes..........................    1,137,000
      Interest Expense............................................      237,000
      Income Before Extraordinary Loss............................      519,000
      Net Income..................................................      511,000

 
                                      S-4

 
                    DESCRIPTION OF THE SERIES   SENIOR NOTES
 
  A description of the specific terms of the Series   Senior Notes is set forth
below. This description should be read together with the description of the
general terms and provisions of the Senior Notes in the accompanying Prospectus
under the caption "Description of the Senior Notes." The description does not
purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the description in the accompanying Prospectus and the Senior
Note Indenture. Capitalized terms used in the description that are not defined
in this Prospectus Supplement are defined in the Senior Note Indenture.
 
GENERAL
 
  The Series   Senior Notes will be limited to $       in aggregate principal
amount and will mature on     ,   .
 
  The Corporation will pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on
the Series   Senior Notes in immediately available funds to The Depository
Trust Company ("DTC"), or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered
owner and holder of the Series   Senior Notes, as long as the Series   Senior
Notes are represented by one or more global securities and DTC serves as
securities depositary.
 
  The Series   Senior Notes will have no sinking fund provisions.
 
INTEREST
 
  The Series   Senior Notes will bear interest at the rate of   % per annum
from the date of issue, or from the most recent interest payment date to which
interest has been paid or provided for. The Corporation will pay interest
semiannually on      and    of each year, commencing on     ,   , to the person
or persons in whose name the Series   Senior Notes are registered on the close
of business on the fifteenth calendar day before the relevant interest payment
date, except that the Corporation will pay interest payable at the stated
maturity of the Series   Senior Notes or on a redemption date to the person or
persons to whom principal is payable. Interest will be computed on the basis of
a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which
interest is payable is not a Business Day, the Corporation will pay such
interest on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any
interest or other payment due to any such delay) with the same force and effect
as if made on such date.
 
RANKING
 
  The Series   Senior Notes will be direct, unsecured and unsubordinated
obligations of the Corporation ranking equal in priority with all other
unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Corporation. The Senior Note
Indenture contains no restrictions on the amount of additional indebtedness
that the Corporation may incur thereunder.
 
  The Corporation conducts its business through subsidiaries. Accordingly, the
ability of the Corporation to meet its obligations under the Series   Senior
Notes will be dependent on the earnings and cash flows of its subsidiaries and
the ability of its subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or
 
                                      S-5

 
repay funds to the Corporation. In addition, the rights of the Corporation and
its creditors to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the
subsidiary's liquidation or recapitalization will be subject to the prior
claims of the subsidiary's creditors.
 
REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE CORPORATION
 
  The Corporation may redeem the Series   Senior Notes at its option, in whole
or in part at any time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100%
of the principal amount of the Series   Senior Notes to be redeemed and (ii)
the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal
and interest on such Series   Senior Notes (exclusive of interest accrued to
the redemption date) discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis
(assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury
Rate plus     basis points, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest
on the principal amount being redeemed to such redemption date.
 
  "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the yield,
under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding
week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated
"H.15(519)" or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on
actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity
under the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities," for the maturity
corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three
months before or after the Stated Maturity, yields for the two published
maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be
determined, and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from
such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (ii) if
such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week
preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per
annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable
Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable
Treasury Price for such redemption date. The Treasury Rate will be calculated
on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date.
 
  "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security
selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable
to the remaining term of the Series   Senior Notes to be redeemed that would be
utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial
practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable
maturity to the remaining term of such Series   Senior Notes.
 
  "Independent Investment Banker" means     and any successor firm or, if such
firm is unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an
independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by
the Senior Indenture Trustee after consultation with the Corporation.
 
  "Comparable Treasury Price" means with respect to any redemption date for the
Series   Senior Notes (i) the average of      Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest
such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the Senior Indenture
Trustee obtains fewer than    such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the
average of all such quotations.
 
                                      S-6

 
  "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of        ,       ,      ,        and
           and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of
the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in
New York City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Corporation will substitute
therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.
 
  "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference
Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the
Senior Indenture Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable
Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount)
quoted in writing to the Senior Indenture Trustee by such Reference Treasury
Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding
such redemption date.
 
Redemption Procedures
 
  Notice of any redemption by the Corporation will be mailed at least 30 days
but not more than 60 days before any redemption date to each registered holder
of Series   Senior Notes to be redeemed. If the redemption notice is given and
funds deposited as required, then interest will cease to accrue on and after
the redemption date on the Series   Senior Notes or portions of Series
Senior Notes called for redemption. In the event that any redemption date is
not a Business Day, the Corporation will pay the redemption price on the next
succeeding day which is a Business Day (without any interest or other payment
due to such delay).
 
Denominations
 
  The Corporation may issue the Series   Senior Notes in denominations of $
or integral multiples of $     .
 
Defeasance
 
  The Senior Notes will be subject to Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance as
described in the Senior Note Indenture. See "Description of the Senior Notes--
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
  Under current United States federal income tax laws, Defeasance would be
treated as an exchange of the relevant Series   Senior Notes in which holders
of such Series   Senior Notes might recognize gain or loss. In addition, the
amount, timing and character of amounts that holders would be required
thereafter to include in income might be different from that which would be
includible in the absence of such Defeasance. Prospective investors are urged
to consult their own tax advisors as to the specific consequences of a
Defeasance, including the applicability and effect of tax laws other than
United States federal income tax laws. Under current United States federal
income tax laws, unless accompanied by other changes in the terms of the Series
  Senior Notes, Covenant Defeasance should not be treated as a taxable
exchange.
 
Book-Entry Only Issuance--DTC
 
  DTC will act as the initial securities depositary for the Series   Senior
Notes. The Series   Senior Notes will be issued as fully registered securities
registered in the name of Cede & Co.,
 
                                      S-7

 
DTC's nominee. One or more fully registered global Series   Senior Note
certificates will be issued, representing in the aggregate the total principal
amount of the Series   Senior Notes, and will be deposited with DTC.
 
  DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking
Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a
member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the
meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency"
registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934. DTC holds securities that its participants ("Participants")
deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among Participants of
securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities
through electronic computerized book-entry changes in Participants' accounts,
thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates.
Direct Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust
companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations ("Direct
Participants"). DTC is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by the
New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange and the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC system is also
available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust
companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct
Participant, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The rules
applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
 
  Purchases of Series   Senior Notes within the DTC system must be made by or
through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the Series
Senior Notes on DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser
of Series   Senior Notes ("Beneficial Owner") is in turn to be recorded on the
Direct and Indirect Participants' records. Beneficial Owners will not receive
written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but Beneficial Owners are
expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the
transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct
or Indirect Participants through which the Beneficial Owners entered into the
transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the Series   Senior Notes are
to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Participants acting on
behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates
representing their ownership interests in Series   Senior Notes, except in the
event that use of the book-entry system for the Series   Senior Notes is
discontinued.
 
  To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Series   Senior Notes deposited by
Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC's partnership nominee,
Cede & Co. The deposit of Series   Senior Notes with DTC and their registration
in the name of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no
knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Series   Senior Notes. DTC's
records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts
such Series   Senior Notes are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial
Owners. The Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their
holdings on behalf of their customers.
 
  Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants,
by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and
Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements
among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time.
 
                                      S-8

 
  Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the Series
Senior Notes are being redeemed, DTC will reduce the amount of interest of each
Direct Participant in the Series   Senior Notes in accordance with its
procedures.
 
  Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with respect to Series
Senior Notes. Under its usual procedures, DTC would mail an Omnibus Proxy to
the Corporation as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy
assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants
to whose accounts the Series   Senior Notes are credited on the record date
(identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).
 
  Payments on the Series   Senior Notes will be made to Cede & Co., as nominee
of DTC. DTC's practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts, upon DTC's
receipt of funds and corresponding detailed information, on the relevant
payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's
records. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by
standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities
held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in "street
name," and will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC or the
Corporation, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time. Payment to Cede & Co. is the responsibility of the
Corporation or the Paying Agent, disbursement of such payments to Direct
Participants is the responsibility of Cede & Co. and disbursement of such
payments to the Beneficial Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect
Participants.
 
  Except as provided herein, a Beneficial Owner of an interest in a global
Series   Senior Note will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of
Series   Senior Notes. Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the
procedures of DTC to exercise any rights under the Series   Senior Notes. The
laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take
physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the
ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global Series   Senior Note.
 
  DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with
respect to the Series   Senior Notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to
the Corporation. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor
securities depositary is not obtained within 90 days, Series   Senior Note
certificates will be printed and delivered to the holders of record.
Additionally, the Corporation may decide to discontinue use of the system of
book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depositary) with
respect to the Series   Senior Notes. In that event, certificates for the
Series   Senior Notes will be printed and delivered to the holders of record.
 
  The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system
has been obtained from sources that the Corporation believes to be reliable,
but the Corporation takes no responsibility for the accuracy of such
information. The Corporation has no responsibility for the performance by DTC
or its Participants of their respective obligations as described in this
Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus or under the rules and
procedures governing their respective operations.
 
                                      S-9

 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an Underwriting Agreement,
the Corporation has agreed to sell to each of the Underwriters named below, and
each of the Underwriters has severally agreed to purchase, the principal amount
of Series   Senior Notes set forth opposite its name below. In the Underwriting
Agreement, the several Underwriters have agreed, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth therein, to purchase all of the Series   Senior Notes
offered hereby if any of the Series   Senior Notes are purchased. In the event
of default by an Underwriter, the Underwriting Agreement provides that, in
certain circumstances, the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting
Underwriters may be increased or the Underwriting Agreement may be terminated.
 


                                                           Principal Amount
                       Underwriter                     of Series    Senior Notes
                       -----------                     -------------------------
                                                    
                                                                 $


                                                                 -----
     Total............................................           $
                                                                 =====

 
  The Underwriters have advised the Corporation that they propose initially to
offer the Series   Senior Notes to the public at the public offering price set
forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement, and to certain dealers
at such price less a concession not in excess of   % of the principal amount.
The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a discount not in
excess of   % of the principal amount of the Series    Senior Notes to certain
other dealers. After the initial public offering, the public offering price,
concession and discount may be changed.
 
  In connection with the offering of the Series   Senior Notes, the
Underwriters may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions and
syndicate covering transactions. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the
offering size, which creates a short position for the Underwriters. Stabilizing
transactions involve bids to purchase the Series   Senior Notes in the open
market for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the
Series   Senior Notes. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the
Series   Senior Notes in the open market after the distribution has been
completed in order to cover short positions. Such stabilizing transactions and
syndicate covering transactions may cause the price of the Series   Senior
Notes to be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of such
transactions. Such activities, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
 
  The Corporation has agreed, during the period of    days from the date of the
Underwriting Agreement, not to sell, offer to sell, grant any option for the
sale of, or otherwise dispose of any Series   Senior Notes, any security
convertible into or exchangeable for the Series   Senior Notes or any debt
securities substantially similar to the Series   Senior Notes (except for the
Series   Senior Notes issued pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement), without
the prior written consent of the Underwriters.
 
  The Corporation has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
                                      S-10

 
  The Corporation estimates that it will spend approximately $     for
printing, rating agency fees, trustees' fees, legal fees and other expenses of
the offering.
 
  In the course of their respective businesses, the Underwriters and their
affiliates have engaged, and will in the future engage, in investment banking
transactions with the Corporation and certain of its affiliates.
 
                           VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES
 
  Dewey Ballantine LLP, New York, New York, will pass upon the validity of the
Series   Senior Notes and certain related matters on behalf of the Corporation.
Sullivan & Cromwell, New York, New York, will pass upon the validity of the
Series   Senior Notes for the Underwriters.
 
                                      S-11

 
 
                                   $[       ]
 
                                  Duke Capital
                                  Corporation
                    a subsidiary of Duke Energy Corporation
 
                            Series    % Senior Notes
                               due
 
                       -------------------------------
 
                             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
 
                       -------------------------------
 
                            [Names of Underwriters]
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may +
+not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the     +
+Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an    +
+offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these +
+securities in any state where the offer or sale of these securities is not    +
+permitted.                                                                    +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
                  Subject to Completion dated January 27, 1999
 
PROSPECTUS
 
                                 $1,000,000,000
 
                            Duke Capital Corporation
                    a subsidiary of Duke Energy Corporation
 
                                  Senior Notes
                           Junior Subordinated Notes
 
 
                                  -----------
 
                        Duke Capital Financing Trust III
 
                        Duke Capital Financing Trust IV
 
                         Duke Capital Financing Trust V
 
                           Trust Preferred Securities
         Fully and unconditionally guaranteed, as described herein, by
 
                            Duke Capital Corporation
                    a subsidiary of Duke Energy Corporation
 
                                  -----------
 
  This Prospectus contains summaries of the general terms of these securities.
We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this
Prospectus. You should read this Prospectus and the supplements carefully
before you invest.
 
  If we decide to list any of these securities on a national securities
exchange upon issuance, the supplements to this Prospectus will identify the
exchange and state when we expect trading to begin. Our common stock is listed
on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "DUK".
 
  Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the
adequacy or accuracy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is
a criminal offense.
 
  We may offer these securities through underwriters, agents or dealers or
directly to institutional investors. The supplements will provide the specific
terms of the plan of distribution. "Plan of Distribution" below also provides
more information on this topic.
 
 
                  The date of this Prospectus is      , 1999.

 
                         WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION
 
  The Corporation and Duke Capital Financing Trust III, Duke Capital Financing
Trust IV and Duke Capital Financing Trust V (each, a "Trust") have filed a
registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act
of 1933. This Prospectus is part of the Registration Statement, but the
Registration Statement also contains additional information and exhibits. As
used in this Prospectus, the term "Registration Statement" includes any
amendments and exhibits thereto.
 
  The Corporation has also filed a registration statement on Form 10 (the "Form
10") with the Commission for the registration of its common stock, without par
value, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As a result, the Corporation
is subject to the informational requirements of such Act, and files annual,
quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Commission.
 
  You may read and copy the Registration Statement, the Form 10 and the reports
and other information that the Corporation files with the Commission at the
Commission's public reference rooms at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549. You may also read and copy materials at 500 West Madison Street, Suite
1400, Chicago, Ill. 60661 and at Seven World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New
York, N.Y. 10048. Copies of such materials can also be obtained at prescribed
rates from the public reference rooms of the Commission at its principal office
at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the Commission's
toll-free telephone number at 1-800-SEC-0330 if you need further information
about the operation of the Commission's public reference rooms. The
Corporation's filings with the Commission are also available from the
Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov.
 
  The Commission allows the Corporation to "incorporate by reference" the
information in documents that it files with the Commission. This means that the
Corporation can disclose important information to you by referring you to those
documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part
of this Prospectus and should be read with the same care. Later information
that the Corporation files with the Commission will automatically update and
supersede that information.
 
  The following documents are incorporated in and made a part of this
Prospectus by reference:
 
  .  the Form 10;
 
  .  the Corporation's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
     March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998 and September 30, 1998; and
 
  .  the Corporation's current reports on Form 8-K dated November 5, 1998,
     December 1, 1998 and January 26, 1999.
 
Any future documents that the Corporation files with the Commission under
Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 will
also be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus until the offering of
these securities has been completed.
 
  You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to
provide you with different information. If
 
                                       2

 
anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not
rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any
jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that
the information appearing in this Prospectus is accurate as of the date hereof
only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects
may have changed since that date.
 
  The Corporation will provide without charge to each person (including any
beneficial owner) to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral
request, a copy of any documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus
(other than the exhibits to such documents unless those exhibits are
specifically incorporated by reference). You should direct your request to the
Investor Relations Department, Duke Capital Corporation, P.O. Box 1005,
Charlotte, North Carolina 28201, telephone (704) 382-3853 or (800) 488-3853
(toll-free).
 
                                       3

 
                            DUKE CAPITAL CORPORATION
 
  The Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Duke Energy Corporation
("Duke Energy") which, under the name of Duke Power Company, completed a merger
with PanEnergy Corp ("PanEnergy") on June 18, 1997 and changed its name to its
present form. As a result, PanEnergy became a wholly owned subsidiary of Duke
Energy. Subsequent to the merger, Duke Energy contributed all of the common
stock of PanEnergy to the Corporation, which, under the name of Church Street
Capital Corp., served as the parent company of Duke Energy's non-utility
operations. The combination of the Corporation and PanEnergy was accounted for
similar to a pooling of interests and, accordingly, the consolidated financial
statements for periods prior to the combination were restated to include the
operations of PanEnergy. The Corporation provides financing and credit
enhancement services for its subsidiaries and conducts its operating activities
through its business segments as follows:
 
 Energy Transmission
 
  The Corporation is engaged in the interstate transportation and storage of
natural gas. Through its four major pipeline subsidiaries--Texas Eastern
Transmission Corporation, Algonquin Gas Transmission Company, Panhandle Eastern
Pipe Line Company and Trunkline Gas Company--the Corporation owns and operates
one of the nation's largest gas transmission networks, delivering approximately
12% of the natural gas consumed in the United States. This fully
interconnected, 22,000-mile system can receive natural gas from most major
North American producing regions for delivery to markets throughout the Mid-
Atlantic, New England and Midwest states as shown below.
 
[Logo depicting delivery markets throughout the Mid-Atlantic, New England and
Midwest states]
 
                                       4

 
  The Corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, PanEnergy and Texas
Eastern Corporation, entered into a stock purchase agreement with CMS Energy
Corporation ("CMS Energy") dated October 31, 1998, pursuant to which Panhandle
Eastern Pipe Line Company, Trunkline Gas Company and the storage properties
related to those systems (collectively, the "PEPL Companies"), along with
Trunkline LNG Company, would be sold to CMS Energy. The sales price of $2.2
billion involves a cash payment of $1.9 billion and existing debt of Panhandle
Eastern Pipe Line Company of approximately $300 million. While certain assets
and liabilities will be retained, such as the Houston office building, certain
environmental, legal and tax liabilities, and substantially all intercompany
balances, management is of the opinion that these assets and liabilities will
not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations or
financial position of the Corporation. The sale would result in an after-tax
gain of approximately $700 million and is contingent upon completion of due
diligence and receipt of clearances under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. The
closing of the transaction is expected to take place during the first quarter
of 1999.
 
  Total assets of the PEPL Companies and Trunkline LNG Company were $1.3
billion at September 30, 1998. Combined operating results of the PEPL Companies
and Trunkline LNG Company, excluding intercompany transactions, were as
follows:
 


                                                              Nine Months Ended
                                                                September 30,
                                                            ---------------------
                                                               1998       1997
                                                            ---------- ----------
                                                            (Dollars in Millions)
                                                                 
      Operating Revenues................................... $    323.1 $    354.7
      Operating Expenses...................................      204.1      221.5
                                                            ---------- ----------
        Operating Income...................................      119.0      133.2
      Other Income, Net....................................       10.2       11.4
                                                            ---------- ----------
        EBIT............................................... $    129.2 $    144.6

 
 Energy Services
 
  The Energy Services group offers a broad variety of worldwide services in
energy asset monetization, engineering, construction, liquids, gas and electric
marketing, risk management, natural gas liquids shipping, gas processing and
transport and "inside-the-fence" and merchant power generation. The Field
Services unit is engaged in the business of purchasing, gathering, transporting
and marketing natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil to industrial end-
users, local distribution companies, liquid petroleum gas wholesalers and
retailers and refiners. Through Duke Energy Trading and Marketing L.L.C., Duke
Energy Marketing, L.P., and Duke/Louis Dreyfus L.L.C., the Corporation markets
natural gas and electric power and provides risk management services to
utilities, municipalities and other large energy users.
 
  Duke Engineering & Services, Inc., provides full-scope engineering, technical
and professional services to public and private sector clients worldwide in all
phases of nuclear, renewable and conventional power generation, from conceptual
design through construction and full life-cycle operation. Specialized
capabilities include engineering, design, project and construction management,
operations and maintenance, quality assurance, environmental management,
facility siting, petroleum services, power delivery services and safety and
health training. Duke/Fluor Daniel provides services related to the
engineering, procurement, construction and operation and maintenance of fossil-
fueled generating stations. The Global Asset Development group develops, owns,
manages and operates energy projects internationally, electric generation
facilities in the United States and Canada, and
 
                                       5

 
on-site, "inside-the-fence" electric generation and energy conversion
facilities for industrial customers. DukeSolutions is the Corporation's retail
energy services provider, offering customers a "one-stop shop" solution for
natural gas and electric commodities, energy efficiency and productivity
services and asset monetization.
 
  The scope of the activities of Energy Services is shown below.
 


 
                   [TWO MAPS OF ENERGY SERVICES ACTIVITIES]

 
 
 
  As part of its strategic plan to expand its nonregulated business, the
Corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Duke Energy Field Services
Inc., agreed on November 20, 1998 to purchase the natural gas gathering,
processing, fractionation and natural gas liquids ("NGL") pipeline business of
UPFuels, a unit of Union Pacific Resources ("UPR"), as well as UPR's natural
gas and NGL marketing activities for $1.35 billion. The Corporation believes
that the assets being acquired, combined with its existing assets, would make
the Corporation the nation's largest producer of NGLs. The purchase also would
make the Corporation one of the largest gatherers of natural gas and one of the
largest marketers of natural gas and NGLs in the United States. Under the
purchase agreement, much of UPR's production in the United States would be
gathered and processed by the
 
                                       6

 
Corporation for a minimum of 10 years and UPR would dedicate for five years
most of its natural gas and NGL production to the Corporation for marketing.
The purchase is contingent on receiving clearances under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Act. The transaction is expected to close at the end of the first quarter of
1999.
 
  According to UPR, EBITD of the UPFuels assets was approximately $156 million
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 and approximately $124 million for
the nine months ended September 30, 1998.
 
 Other Operations
 
  Crescent Resources, Inc. ("Crescent Resources") conducts real estate
management, forestry, and commercial and residential real estate development
operations. DukeNet Communications, Inc. ("DukeNet") develops and manages
communications systems, including fiber optic and wireless digital network
services.
 
  The scope of the activities of Crescent Resources and DukeNet is shown below.
 
 
 
             [MAP OF ACTIVITIES OF CRESCENT RESOURCES AND DUKENET]
 
 

  The principal executive offices of the Corporation are located at 422 South
Church Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, telephone (704) 594-6200.
 
                                       7

 
  The following financial information is qualified in its entirety by the
financial statements included in the documents incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus. See "Where to Find More Information."
 
                  Selected Consolidated Financial Information
                                   (Millions)
 


                                 Nine Months Ended
                                   September 30,     Year Ended December 31,
                                 ----------------- ---------------------------
                                   1998   1997(1)   1997(1)  1996(1)  1995(1)
                                 -------- -------- --------- -------- --------
                                                       
Income Statement Data
Operating Revenues.............. $9,868.5 $8,406.8 $11,914.8 $7,816.1 $5,187.7
Operating Expenses..............  9,138.9  7,788.2  11,079.0  6,946.8  4,393.9
                                 -------- -------- --------- -------- --------
 Operating Income...............    729.6    618.6     835.8    869.3    793.8
Other Income, Net...............     71.8     37.3      36.7     20.1     18.0
                                 -------- -------- --------- -------- --------
Earnings Before Interest and
 Taxes..........................    801.4    655.9     872.5    889.4    811.8
Interest Expense................    180.3    158.2     214.2    232.1    239.5
Income Before Extraordinary
 Item...........................    371.1    285.3     380.3    399.0    348.1
Net Income......................    363.1    285.3     380.3    382.3    348.1

- --------
(1) Data reflects accounting for the combination of the Corporation and
    PanEnergy on June 30, 1997 similar to a pooling of interests. As a result,
    the data gives effect to the combination as if it had occurred as of
    January 1, 1995.
 

                                                        
Balance Sheet Data
Property, Plant and Equipment,
 Net .........................  $ 7,013.0 $ 5,962.5 $ 6,065.2 $5,800.7 $5,429.1
Total Assets..................   13,082.9  10,907.2  11,096.8  9,751.7  8,225.8
Short-term Debt ..............      416.9     243.4     137.7    359.1    150.0
Long-term Debt, including
 current portion..............    3,052.6   2,538.0   2,941.3  2,203.3  2,401.9

 
                                Financial Ratios
                                  (Unaudited)
 


                         Nine Months Ended
                           September 30,            Year Ended December 31,
                         ------------------ ---------------------------------------
                          1998    1997(1)   1997(1) 1996(1) 1995(1) 1994(1) 1993(1)
                         ------- ---------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
                                                       
Ratio of Earnings to
 Fixed Charges..........    4.0      3.8      3.7     3.6     3.2     2.7     2.1

 
  For purposes of this ratio, (i) earnings consist of income from continuing
operations before income taxes and fixed charges and (ii) fixed charges consist
of all interest deductions and the interest component of rentals.
- --------
(1) Data reflects accounting for the combination of the Corporation and
    PanEnergy on June 30, 1997 similar to a pooling of interests. As a result,
    the data gives effect to the combination as if it had occurred as of
    January 1, 1993.
 
                                       8

 
                                   THE TRUSTS
 
  Each Trust is a statutory business trust formed under Delaware law through
the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State. That
filing occurred on January 29, 1998 with respect to Duke Capital Financing
Trust III and on September 25, 1998 with respect to Duke Capital Financing
Trust IV and Duke Capital Financing Trust V.
 
  Each Trust's business is defined in a trust agreement executed by the
Corporation, as depositor, and Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware. The trust
agreement of each Trust will be amended and restated in its entirety
substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of
which this Prospectus is a part (the "Trust Agreement"). Each Trust Agreement
will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
 
  Each Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of (1) issuing its preferred
securities (the "Preferred Securities") and its common securities (the "Common
Securities") representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of that
Trust and (2) investing the gross proceeds of the Preferred Securities and the
Common Securities in a related series of the Corporation's Junior Subordinated
Notes (the "Junior Subordinated Notes"). Each Trust may engage in only those
other activities as are necessary, appropriate, convenient or incidental to
these purposes. The Preferred Securities and the Common Securities together are
sometimes called the "Trust Securities" in this Prospectus.
 
  Each Trust's business and affairs will be conducted by its trustees. The
Corporation, as the holder of the Common Securities, will appoint the trustees
of each Trust. The trustee of each Trust will consist of: two officers of the
Corporation as Administrative Trustees, The Chase Manhattan Bank as Property
Trustee and Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware as Delaware Trustee. The Property
Trustee of each Trust will act as the indenture trustee with respect to that
Trust for purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939.
 
  Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Preferred
Securities of a given Trust for further information concerning that Trust.
 
  No separate financial statements of any Trust are included in this
Prospectus. The Corporation considers that such statements would not be
material to holders of the Preferred Securities because each Trust has no
independent operations and its sole purpose is investing the proceeds of the
sale of its Trust Securities in Junior Subordinated Notes. The Corporation does
not expect that any of the Trusts will be filing reports under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 with the Commission.
 
  The principal place of business of each Trust will be c/o Duke Capital
Corporation, 422 South Church Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202,
telephone (704) 594-6200.
 
                                       9

 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
  Each Trust will invest the proceeds that it receives from the sale of the
Preferred Securities in Junior Subordinated Notes. Unless the applicable
Prospectus Supplement states otherwise, the Corporation will use the net
proceeds that it receives from such investment and any proceeds that it
receives from the sale of its senior notes (the "Senior Notes") or other sales
of the Junior Subordinated Notes for general corporate purposes, including
capital expenditures, working capital, debt repayments and advances to
affiliates.
 
                                      10

 
                        DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES
 
  A description of the terms of the Senior Notes is set forth below. This
description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to, the Senior Indenture, dated as of April 1,
1998, between the Corporation and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the
"Senior Indenture Trustee"), as supplemented from time to time (the "Senior
Note Indenture").
 
  The Corporation may issue series of Senior Notes from time to time by
entering into supplemental indentures with the Senior Indenture Trustee. The
Corporation may also issue series of Senior Notes from time to time pursuant to
resolutions of the Corporation's Board of Directors or of a duly authorized
committee thereof.
 
  The Senior Note Indenture, dated as of April 1, 1998, and the form of
supplemental indenture to the Senior Note Indenture are exhibits to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The terms of each
series of Senior Notes will include those stated in the Senior Note Indenture
for that series and those made a part of the Senior Note Indenture by reference
to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
 
General
 
  The Corporation will issue Senior Notes under the Senior Note Indenture as
one or more series of unsecured senior debt securities. The Senior Notes will
rank equal in priority with all other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of the
Corporation.
 
  The Senior Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of
Senior Notes that the Corporation may issue. The Senior Notes of a series need
not be issued at the same time, bear interest at the same rate or mature on the
same date.
 
  The Corporation conducts its business through subsidiaries. Accordingly, the
ability of the Corporation to meet its obligations under the Senior Notes will
be dependent on the earnings and cash flows of its subsidiaries and the ability
of its subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to the
Corporation. In addition, the rights of the Corporation and its creditors to
participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary's liquidation
or recapitalization will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary's
creditors.
 
  Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement for a particular series of
Senior Notes for the following terms of that series:
 
  . the title of the series;
 
  . any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes of the
    series;
 
  . the date or dates on which the principal of any of such Senior Notes will
    be payable or the method for determining such date or dates, and the
    right, if any, of the Corporation to shorten or extend the date on which
    the principal of any Senior Notes of the series is payable;
 
  . the rate or rates at which any of such Senior Notes will bear interest,
    if any, or the method for determining such rate or rates, and the date or
    dates from which any such interest will accrue;
 
                                       11

 
  . the interest payment dates on which any such interest will be payable and
    the regular record date, if any, for any such interest payable on any
    interest payment date;
 
  . if applicable, whether the Corporation may extend the interest payment
    periods and, if so, the terms of any such extension;
 
  . the place or places where principal and any premium and interest on any
    of such Senior Notes will be payable, if other than the principal
    corporate trust office of the Senior Indenture Trustee;
 
  . the obligation, if any, of the Corporation to redeem or purchase any of
    such Senior Notes pursuant to any sinking fund, purchase fund or
    analogous provision or at the option of the holder and the terms and
    conditions on which any of such Senior Notes may be redeemed or purchased
    pursuant to such obligation;
 
  . the terms and conditions, if any, on which the Corporation may at its
    option redeem any of such Senior Notes;
 
  . if applicable, the fact that certain terms of the Senior Note Indenture
    described below under "Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance" will not apply
    to any of such Senior Notes;
 
  . the currency, currencies or currency units in which principal and any
    premium and interest on any of such Senior Notes will be payable, if
    other than U.S. dollars, and the manner of determining the equivalent of
    those amounts in U.S. dollars for any purpose;
 
  . if the principal or any premium or interest on any of such Senior Notes
    is payable, at the election of the Corporation or the holder, in one or
    more currencies or currency units other than those in which such Senior
    Notes are stated to be payable, then the currency, currencies or currency
    units in which those payments will be made, the terms and conditions upon
    which the election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner
    of determining that amount);
 
  . the portion of the principal amount of any of such Senior Notes which
    will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of maturity, if other
    than the entire principal amount;
 
  . whether any such Senior Notes will be issuable as global securities
    ("Global Securities") and, if so, the depositary and any provisions for
    the transfer or exchange of any such Global Securities, if different from
    those described below under "--Global Securities";
 
  . any addition to, deletion from or change in Events of Default or
    covenants with respect to any of such Senior Notes;
 
  . any index or formula for determining the amount of principal or any
    premium or interest on any of such Senior Notes and the manner of
    determining any such amounts;
 
  . if the principal amount payable on the maturity date of any of such
    Senior Notes will not be determinable on any one or more dates prior to
    the maturity date, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal
    amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal
    amount which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than the
    maturity date (or the manner of determining any such amount); and
 
  . any other terms of the Senior Notes.
 
                                       12

 
  Unless the applicable Prospectus Supplement states otherwise, the Corporation
will issue the Senior Notes only in fully registered form, without coupons, and
there will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of
the Senior Notes. The Corporation may, however, require payment to cover any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with such registration
of transfer or exchange.
 
  The Corporation may offer and sell Senior Notes, including Original Issue
Discount Senior Notes, at a substantial discount below their principal amount.
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the special United States
federal income tax and other considerations, if any, applicable thereto. In
addition, the applicable Prospectus Supplement may describe certain special
United States federal income tax or other considerations, if any, applicable to
any Senior Notes which are denominated in a currency or currency unit other
than U.S. dollars.
 
  The Senior Note Indenture does not contain provisions that afford any holders
of Senior Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction
involving the Corporation.
 
Global Securities
 
  Some or all of the Senior Notes of a series may be represented in whole or in
part by one or more Global Securities deposited with or on behalf of one or
more depositaries.
 
  The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of any
depositary arrangement. The Corporation anticipates that the following
provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements for Senior Notes
represented by Global Securities.
 
  Unless the applicable Prospectus Supplement states otherwise, Senior Notes
which are to be represented by a Global Security deposited with or on behalf of
a depositary will be represented by a Global Security registered in the name of
that depositary or its nominee. Upon the issuance of a Global Security in
registered form, the depositary for such Global Security will credit, on its
book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts
of the Senior Notes represented by such Global Security to the accounts of
institutions that have accounts with such depositary or its nominee
("participants"). The accounts to be credited will be designated by the
underwriters or agents of such Senior Notes or by the Corporation, if such
Senior Notes are offered and sold directly by the Corporation. Ownership of
beneficial interests in such Global Securities will be limited to participants
or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of
beneficial interests by participants in such Global Securities will be shown
on, and the transfer of any such ownership interest will be effected only
through, records maintained by the depositary or its nominee for such Global
Security. Ownership of beneficial interests in Global Securities by persons
that hold through participants will be effected only through records maintained
by such participants. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain
purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in
definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability to transfer
beneficial interests in a Global Security.
 
  So long as the depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the
registered owner of such Global Security, such depositary or such nominee, as
the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Senior
Notes represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the Senior
Note Indenture. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in
the Global Security will not be entitled to have the Senior Notes represented
by such Global Security registered
 
                                       13

 
in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of
the Senior Notes in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or
holders thereof under the Senior Note Indenture.
 
  Payment of principal of and any premium and interest on Senior Notes
registered in the name of or held by a depositary or its nominee will be made
in immediately available funds to the depositary or its nominee, as the case
may be, as the registered owner or the holder of the Global Security
representing such Senior Notes. None of the Corporation, the Senior Indenture
Trustee, any Paying Agent or the registrar and transfer agent for such Senior
Notes will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records
relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in
a Global Security for such Senior Notes or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
 
  The Corporation expects that a depositary for Senior Notes of a series, upon
receipt of any payment of principal or any premium or interest in respect of a
Global Security, will credit immediately participants' accounts with payment in
amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal
amount of such Global Security as shown on the records of such depositary. The
Corporation also expects that payments by participants to owners of beneficial
interests in such Global Security held through such participants will be
governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case
with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in "street name,"
and will be the responsibility of such participants.
 
  A Global Security may not be transferred in whole or in part except by the
depositary for such Global Security to a nominee of such depositary or by a
nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such
depositary or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor depositary
or a nominee of such successor depositary. If a depositary for Senior Notes of
a series is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a
successor depositary is not appointed by the Corporation within 90 days or if
at any time the depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 when the depositary is required to be
registered to act as such depositary and no successor is appointed by the
Corporation within 90 days, then the Corporation will issue Senior Notes in
definitive registered form in exchange for the Global Security or Global
Securities representing such Senior Notes. In addition, the Corporation may at
any time determine not to have any Senior Notes represented by one or more
Global Securities and, in such event, will issue Senior Notes in definitive
registered form in exchange for the Global Securities representing such Senior
Notes. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global
Security will be entitled to physical delivery in definitive form of the Senior
Notes represented by such Global Security equal in principal amount to such
beneficial interest and to have such Senior Notes registered in its name.
 
Events of Default
 
  The following will be Events of Default under the Senior Note Indenture with
respect to Senior Notes of any series (unless not applicable to the particular
series or unless modified or deleted in a supplemental indenture as stated in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement):
 
  .failure to pay principal of or any premium on any Senior Note of that
  series when due;
 
 
                                       14

 
  . failure to pay any interest on any Senior Note of that series when due,
    continued for 60 days; provided, however, that the date on which such
    payment is due and payable will be the date on which the Corporation is
    required to make payment following any deferral of interest payments by
    the Corporation under the terms of such Senior Notes;
 
  . failure to make any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of
    any Senior Note of that series, continued for 60 days;
 
  . failure to perform any covenant of the Corporation in the Senior Note
    Indenture (other than a covenant that is solely for the benefit of other
    series), continued for 90 days after the Senior Indenture Trustee or the
    holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the outstanding Senior
    Notes of that series give written notice of the default (unless the
    Senior Indenture Trustee or the Senior Indenture Trustee and the holders
    of a principal amount of Senior Notes of that series not less than the
    principal amount of Senior Notes the holders of which had given notice
    of default extend that time period) (the Senior Indenture Trustee, or
    the Senior Indenture Trustee and such holders, as the case may be, will
    be deemed to have agreed to such an extension if the Corporation has
    initiated and is diligently pursuing corrective action);
 
  . certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
    Corporation; and
 
  . any other Event of Default with respect to Senior Notes of that series.
 
  If an Event of Default with respect to Senior Notes of a series occurs and is
continuing, then the Senior Indenture Trustee or the holders of not less than
33% in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of that series may, by
notice to the Corporation (and to the Senior Indenture Trustee if given by
holders), declare to be immediately due and payable the principal amount of all
Senior Notes of that series (or, if any Senior Notes of that series are
Original Issue Discount Senior Notes, the portion of the principal amount
specified in the terms of the series). However, that Event of Default will be
deemed waived at any time after the declaration of acceleration but before a
judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained if:
 
  . the Corporation has paid or deposited with the Senior Indenture Trustee
    all overdue interest, the principal and any premium due otherwise than
    by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon, and any
    interest on overdue interest (to the extent permitted by applicable
    law), in each case with respect to the Senior Notes of such series, and
    all amounts due to the Senior Indenture Trustee under the Senior Note
    Indenture; and
 
  . all Events of Default with respect to that series (other than the
    nonpayment of the principal which became due solely by such declaration
    of acceleration) have been cured or waived.
 
The Prospectus Supplement relating to a series of Original Issue Discount
Senior Notes will include the particular provisions relating to acceleration of
a portion of the principal amount of those Senior Notes upon the occurrence and
continuance of an Event of Default.
 
  Subject to the provisions of the Senior Note Indenture relating to the duties
of the Senior Indenture Trustee in case of a continuing Event of Default, the
Senior Indenture Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its
rights or powers under the Senior Note Indenture at the request or direction of
any of the holders unless those holders have offered reasonable indemnity
against the costs, expenses and liabilities which the Senior Indenture Trustee
might incur as a result.
 
                                       15

 
Subject to such provisions for indemnification and to certain other rights of
the Senior Indenture Trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of
the outstanding Senior Notes of any series have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the
Senior Indenture Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the
Senior Indenture Trustee with respect to the Senior Notes of that series. The
Senior Indenture Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of Senior Notes of
any series of any default (except in the payment of principal or interest) with
respect to that series if the Senior Indenture Trustee in good faith considers
it in the interest of holders to do so.
 
  No holder of a Senior Note of any series will have any right to institute a
proceeding with respect to the Senior Note Indenture or for any remedy under
the Senior Note Indenture unless:
 
  . that holder has previously given the Senior Indenture Trustee written
    notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Senior Notes
    of that series;
 
  . the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior
    Notes of that series have made written request to institute the
    proceeding;
 
  . such holder or holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the Senior
    Indenture Trustee;
 
  . the Senior Indenture Trustee has failed to institute the proceeding for
    60 days after receipt of the notice and offer of indemnity; and
 
  . the Senior Indenture Trustee has not received from the holders of a
    majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of that
    series a direction inconsistent with the written request.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder of any Senior Note will have an
absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of and any
premium and, subject to certain limitations, interest on that Senior Note on
its maturity date (or, in the case of redemption, the date of redemption) and
to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment.
 
  The Corporation is required to furnish annually to the Senior Indenture
Trustee an officers' certificate to the effect that, to the best knowledge of
the officers providing the certificate, the Corporation is not in default under
the Senior Note Indenture or, if there has been a default, specifying the
default and its status.
 
Registration and Transfer
 
  If Senior Notes of a series (or series and tenor) are to be redeemed, the
Corporation will not be required to:
 
  . issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Senior Notes of that
    series (or series and tenor) during the 15 days immediately preceding
    the date notice is mailed identifying the Senior Notes that are called
    for redemption; or
 
  . register the transfer of or exchange any Senior Note selected for
    redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of a
    Senior Note being redeemed in part.
 
Denominations
 
  Senior Notes will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral
multiples of $1,000, unless the applicable Prospectus Supplement states
otherwise.
 
 
                                       16

 
Payment and Paying Agent
 
  Principal of Senior Notes will be paid only against surrender of the Senior
Notes to the paying agent. Unless the applicable Prospectus Supplement states
otherwise, interest on Senior Notes will be payable, subject to surrender if
applicable, at the office of the paying agent or, at the option of the
Corporation, (1) by wire transfer to an account at a banking institution in the
United States that the person entitled to the interest designates in writing to
the Senior Indenture Trustee at least 16 days prior to the date of payment or
(2) by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to the interest as
such address appears in the security register for such Senior Notes.
 
  Unless the applicable Prospectus Supplement states otherwise, the Senior
Indenture Trustee will act as paying agent for the Senior Notes, and the
principal corporate trust office of the Senior Indenture Trustee will serve as
the office through which the paying agent acts. The Corporation may, however,
designate additional paying agents, rescind the designation of any paying
agents or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts.
 
  All moneys that the Corporation has paid to a paying agent for payment of
principal of or interest on Senior Notes which remain unclaimed at the end of
two years after such principal or interest has become due and payable will be
repaid to the Corporation at the Corporation's request. Holders will thereafter
look only to the Corporation for such payments.
 
Modification; Waiver
 
  The Corporation and the Senior Indenture Trustee may, with certain
exceptions, amend or modify the Senior Note Indenture with the consent of the
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Senior
Notes of all series of Senior Notes affected by the amendment or modification
(voting as one class). No amendment or modification may, however, without the
consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior Note affected thereby:
 
  . change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of
    principal of or interest on, any Senior Note;
 
  . reduce the principal amount of, the rate of interest on, or any premium
    payable upon the redemption of any Senior Note;
 
  . reduce the amount of principal of any Senior Note due and payable upon
    acceleration of the maturity thereof;
 
  . change the currency of payment of principal of, or any premium or
    interest on, any Senior Note;
 
  . impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
    payment on any Senior Note on or after the stated maturity (or date of
    redemption);
 
  . reduce the percentage in principal amount of Senior Notes of any series,
    the consent of whose holders is required to amend or modify the Senior
    Note Indenture, to waive compliance with certain provisions of the
    Senior Note Indenture or to waive certain defaults; or
 
  . with certain exceptions, modify the foregoing provisions or the sections
    of the Senior Note Indenture governing waiver of certain covenants and
    past defaults.
 
In addition, the Corporation and the Senior Indenture Trustee may execute
supplemental indentures to create new series of Senior Notes and for certain
other purposes, without the consent of any holders of Senior Notes.
 
                                       17

 
  The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Senior Notes of any series may waive, for that series, the Corporation's
compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the Senior Note Indenture.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Senior Notes of all series under the Senior Note Indenture with respect to
which a default has occurred and is continuing (voting as one class) may waive
that default for all such series, except a default in the payment of principal
of, or any premium or interest on, any Senior Note of such series or a default
with respect to a covenant or provision which cannot be amended or modified
without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior Note affected.
 
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer
 
  The Senior Note Indenture provides that the Corporation may consolidate or
merge with or into another corporation or other entity of a sort specified in
the Senior Note Indenture, or convey or transfer its properties and assets as
an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any such entity; provided,
however, that the successor, if any, assumes by supplemental indenture the
Corporation's obligations under the Senior Note Indenture and the Senior Notes
issued thereunder and the Corporation delivers an officers' certificate and an
opinion of counsel to the Senior Indenture Trustee stating that all conditions
precedent in the Senior Note Indenture relating to the consolidation, merger,
conveyance or transfer have been complied with. Upon the assumption by the
successor of the Corporation's obligations under the Senior Note Indenture and
the Senior Notes issued thereunder and the satisfaction of any other conditions
precedent provided for in the Senior Note Indenture, the successor will succeed
to and be substituted for the Corporation under the Senior Note Indenture, and
the Corporation will be relieved of its obligations under the Senior Note
Indenture and the Senior Notes.
 
Negative Pledge
 
  The Senior Note Indenture provides that the Corporation will not, and will
not permit any Principal Subsidiary of the Corporation to, while any of the
Senior Notes remain outstanding, create, or suffer to be created or to exist,
any mortgage, lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance of any kind
upon any Principal Property of the Corporation or any Principal Subsidiary of
the Corporation or upon any shares of stock of any Principal Subsidiary of the
Corporation, whether such Principal Property is, or shares of stock are, now
owned or hereafter acquired, to secure any indebtedness for borrowed money of
the Corporation, unless it makes effective provision whereby the Senior Notes
then outstanding will be secured by such mortgage, lien, pledge, security
interest or other encumbrance equally and ratably with any and all indebtedness
for borrowed money thereby secured so long as any such indebtedness shall be so
secured; provided, however, that neither the Corporation nor any Principal
Subsidiary of the Corporation will be precluded from creating, or from
suffering to be created or to exist, any mortgages, liens, pledges, security
interests or other encumbrances, or any agreements, with respect to (1)
purchase money mortgages, or other purchase money liens, pledges, security
interests or other encumbrances of any kind upon property acquired after the
date of the Senior Note Indenture by the Corporation or any Principal
Subsidiary of the Corporation, or mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests
or other encumbrances of any kind existing on any property or any shares of
stock at the time of the acquisition thereof (including mortgages, liens,
pledges, security interests or other encumbrances which exist on any property
or
 
                                       18

 
any shares of stock of a Person which is consolidated with or merged with or
into the Corporation or any Principal Subsidiary of the Corporation or which
transfers or leases all or substantially all of its properties to the
Corporation or any Principal Subsidiary of the Corporation), or conditional
sales agreements or other title retention agreements and leases in the nature
of title retention agreements with respect to any property acquired after the
date of the Senior Note Indenture; provided, however, that no such mortgage,
lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance will extend to or cover
any other property of the Corporation or such Principal Subsidiary of the
Corporation; (2) mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests or other
encumbrances of any kind upon any property of the Corporation or any Principal
Subsidiary of the Corporation or any shares of stock of any Principal
Subsidiary of the Corporation existing as of the date of the initial issuance
of the Senior Notes or upon the property or any shares of stock of any
corporation, which mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests or other
encumbrances existed at the time such corporation became a Principal Subsidiary
of the Corporation; liens for taxes or assessments or other governmental
charges or levies; pledges or deposits to secure obligations under workers'
compensation laws, unemployment insurance and other social security
legislation, including liens of judgments thereunder which are not currently
dischargeable; pledges or deposits to secure performance in connection with
bids, tenders, contracts (other than contracts for the payment of money) or
leases to which the Corporation or any Principal Subsidiary of the Corporation
is a party; pledges or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of
the Corporation or any Principal Subsidiary of the Corporation; builders',
materialmen's, mechanics', carriers', warehousemen's, workers', repairmen's,
operators', landlords' or other like liens in the ordinary course of business,
or deposits to obtain the release of such liens; pledges or deposits to secure,
or in lieu of, surety, stay, appeal, indemnity, customs, performance or return-
of-money bonds; other pledges or deposits for similar purposes in the ordinary
course of business; liens created by or resulting from any litigation or
proceeding which at the time is being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings; liens incurred in connection with the issuance of bankers'
acceptances and lines of credit, bankers' liens or rights of offset and any
security given in the ordinary course of business to banks or others to secure
any indebtedness payable on demand or maturing within 12 months of the date
that such indebtedness is originally incurred; liens incurred in connection
with repurchase, swap or other similar agreements (including, without
limitation, commodity price, currency exchange and interest rate protection
agreements); leases made, or existing on property acquired, in the ordinary
course of business; liens securing industrial revenue or pollution control
bonds; liens, pledges, security interests or other encumbrances on any property
arising in connection with any defeasance, covenant defeasance or in-substance
defeasance of indebtedness of the Corporation or any Principal Subsidiary of
the Corporation, including the Senior Notes; liens created in connection with,
and created to secure, a non-recourse obligation; zoning restrictions,
easements, licenses, rights-of-way, restrictions on the use of property or
minor irregularities in title thereto, which do not, in the opinion of the
Corporation, materially impair the use of such property in the operation of the
business of the Corporation or the value of such property for the purpose of
such business; (3) mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests or other
encumbrances in favor of the United States of America, any state, any foreign
country or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision
of any such jurisdiction, 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,
including, without limitation,
 
                                       19

 
mortgages to secure indebtedness of the pollution control or industrial revenue
bond type; (4) indebtedness which may be issued by the Corporation or any
Principal Subsidiary of the Corporation in connection with a consolidation or
merger of the Corporation or any Principal Subsidiary of the Corporation with
or into any other Person (which may be an affiliate of the Corporation or any
Principal Subsidiary of the Corporation) in exchange for or otherwise in
substitution for secured indebtedness of such Person ("Third Party Debt") which
by its terms (a) is secured by a mortgage on all or a portion of the property
of such Person, (b) prohibits secured indebtedness from being incurred by such
Person, unless the Third Party Debt shall be secured equally and ratably with
such secured indebtedness or (c) prohibits secured indebtedness from being
incurred by such Person; (5) indebtedness of any Person which is required to be
assumed by the Corporation or any Principal Subsidiary of the Corporation in
connection with a consolidation or merger of such Person, with respect to which
any property of the Corporation or any Principal Subsidiary of the Corporation
is subjected to a mortgage, lien, pledge, security interest or other
encumbrance; (6) mortgages, liens, security interests or other encumbrances on
property held or used by the Corporation or any Principal Subsidiary of the
Corporation in connection with the exploration for, or development, gathering,
production, storage or marketing of, natural gas, oil or other minerals
(including liquefied gas and synthetic gas); (7) mortgages, liens, pledges,
security interests or other encumbrances of any kind upon any property
acquired, constructed, developed or improved by the Corporation or any
Principal Subsidiary of the Corporation (whether alone or in association with
others) after the date of the Senior Note Indenture which are created prior to,
at the time of, or within 18 months after such acquisition (or in the case of
property constructed, developed or improved, after the completion of such
construction, development or improvement and commencement of full commercial
operation of such property, whichever is later) to secure or provide for the
payment of any part of the purchase price or cost thereof; provided that in the
case of such construction, development or improvement the mortgages, liens,
pledges, security interests or other encumbrances shall not apply to any
property theretofore owned by the Corporation or any Principal Subsidiary of
the Corporation other than theretofore unimproved real property; (8) mortgages,
liens, pledges, security interests and other encumbrances in favor of the
Corporation, one or more Principal Subsidiaries of the Corporation, one or more
wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Corporation or any of the foregoing in
combination; (9) the replacement, extension or renewal (or successive
replacements, extensions or renewals), as a whole or in part, of any mortgage,
lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance, or of any agreement,
referred to above in clauses (1) through (8) inclusive, or the replacement,
extension or renewal (not exceeding the principal amount of indebtedness
secured thereby together with any premium, interest, fee or expense payable in
connection with any such replacement, extension or renewal) of the indebtedness
secured thereby; provided that such replacement, extension or renewal is
limited to all or a part of the same property that secured the mortgage, lien,
pledge, security interest or other encumbrance replaced, extended or renewed
(plus improvements thereon or additions or accessions thereto); or (10) any
other mortgage, lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance not
excepted by the foregoing clauses (1) through (9); provided that immediately
after the creation or assumption of such mortgage, lien, pledge, security
interest or other encumbrance, the aggregate principal amount of indebtedness
for borrowed money of the Corporation secured by all mortgages, liens, pledges,
security interests and other encumbrances created or assumed under the
provisions of clause (10) will not exceed an amount equal to 10% of common
stockholder's equity of the Corporation, as shown on its consolidated balance
sheet for the accounting period occurring
 
                                       20

 
immediately prior to the creation or assumption of such mortgage, lien, pledge,
security interest or other encumbrance.
 
  For the purposes of the preceding paragraph, the following terms have these
meanings: "Principal Property" means any natural gas pipeline, natural gas
gathering system, natural gas storage facility, natural gas processing plant or
other plant or facility located in the United States that in the opinion of the
Board of Directors or management of the Corporation is of material importance
to the business conducted by the Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries
taken as a whole; "Principal Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary which owns a
Principal Property; and "Subsidiary" means, as to any Person, a corporation of
which more than 50% of the outstanding shares of stock having ordinary voting
power (other than stock having such power only by reason of contingency) is at
the time owned, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or
both, by such Person.
 
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
 
  The Senior Note Indenture provides, unless the terms of the particular series
of Senior Notes provides otherwise, that the Corporation may cause itself to
be:
 
  . discharged from its obligations (with certain exceptions) with respect
    to any Senior Notes or series of Senior Notes ("Defeasance"); and
 
  . released from its obligations under certain covenants especially
    established with respect to any Senior Notes or series of Senior Notes
    and from the obligations described above, if applicable, under "Negative
    Pledge" with respect to any such Senior Notes ("Covenant Defeasance"),
 
in each case on and after the date the Corporation satisfies certain conditions
in the Senior Note Indenture. Those conditions include the irrevocable deposit
with the Senior Indenture Trustee, in trust, of money and/or Government
Obligations (as defined in the Senior Note Indenture), which through the
scheduled payment of principal and interest thereon would provide sufficient
moneys to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on those Senior
Notes on the maturity dates of such payments or upon redemption.
 
  The Senior Note Indenture permits Defeasance with respect to any Senior Notes
of a series even if a prior Covenant Defeasance has occurred with respect to
Senior Notes of that series. Following a Defeasance, payment of the Senior
Notes defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. Following
a Covenant Defeasance, payment of Senior Notes may not be accelerated by
reference to the covenants noted in the definition of Covenant Defeasance
above. However, if such an acceleration were to occur, the realizable value at
the acceleration date of the money and Government Obligations in the defeasance
trust could be less than the principal and interest then due on such Senior
Notes, since the required deposit in the defeasance trust would be based upon
scheduled cash flows rather than market value, which would vary depending upon
interest rates and other factors.
 
  Under current United States federal income tax law, the Defeasance
contemplated in the preceding paragraphs would be treated as an exchange of the
relevant Senior Notes in which holders of Senior Notes might recognize gain or
loss. In addition, the amount, timing and character of amounts that holders
would be required thereafter to include in income might be different from
 
                                       21

 
that which would be includible in the absence of such Defeasance. Prospective
investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors as to the specific
consequences of a Defeasance, including the applicability and effect of tax
laws other than United States federal income tax laws.
 
  Under current United States federal income tax laws, unless accompanied by
other changes in the terms of the Senior Notes, Covenant Defeasance should not
be treated as a taxable exchange.
 
Information Concerning the Senior Indenture Trustee
 
  The Chase Manhattan Bank, which is the Senior Indenture Trustee, also serves
as the Trustee under the Subordinated Note Indenture of the Corporation and as
Property Trustee and Guarantee Trustee with respect to Preferred Securities
issued by the Trusts. The Corporation and certain of its affiliates maintain
deposit accounts and banking relationships with The Chase Manhattan Bank.
 
Governing Law
 
  The Senior Note Indenture and the Senior Notes will be governed by the
internal laws of the State of New York.
 
                                       22

 
                  DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
 
  A description of the terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes is set forth
below. This description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Subordinated Indenture, dated
as of April 1, 1998, between the Corporation and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
trustee (the "Subordinated Indenture Trustee"), as supplemented from time to
time (the "Subordinated Note Indenture").
 
  The Corporation may issue series of Subordinated Notes (including series of
Junior Subordinated Notes) from time to time by entering into supplemental
indentures with the Subordinated Indenture Trustee. The Corporation may also
issue series of Subordinated Notes (including series of Junior Subordinated
Notes) from time to time pursuant to resolutions of the Corporation's Board of
Directors or of a duly authorized committee thereof.
 
  The Subordinated Note Indenture, dated as of April 1, 1998, and the form of
supplemental indenture to the Subordinated Note Indenture are exhibits to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The terms of each
series of Junior Subordinated Notes will include those stated in the
Subordinated Note Indenture for that series and those made a part of the
Subordinated Note Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
 
General
 
  The Corporation will issue Junior Subordinated Notes under the Subordinated
Note Indenture as one or more series of unsecured subordinated debt securities
(all such series collectively, the "Junior Subordinated Notes" and all series
of Subordinated Notes collectively, the "Subordinated Notes").
 
  The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount
of Subordinated Notes (including Junior Subordinated Notes) that the
Corporation may issue.
 
  Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement for a particular series of
Junior Subordinated Notes for the following terms of that series:
 
  . the title of the series;
 
  . any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Junior Subordinated
    Notes of the series;
 
  . the date or dates on which the principal of such Junior Subordinated
    Notes will be payable or the method for determining such date or dates,
    and the right, if any, of the Corporation to shorten or extend the date
    on which the principal of any Junior Subordinated Notes of the series is
    payable;
 
  . the rate or rates at which such Junior Subordinated Notes will bear
    interest, if any, or the method for determining the rate or rates, and
    the date or dates from which any such interest will accrue;
 
  . the interest payment dates on which any such interest will be payable
    and the regular record date, if any, for any interest payable on any
    interest payment date;
 
  . if applicable, whether the Corporation may extend the interest payment
    periods and, if so, the terms of any such extension;
 
                                       23

 
  . the place or places where principal and any premium and interest on such
    Junior Subordinated Notes will be payable, if other than the principal
    corporate trust office of the Subordinated Indenture Trustee;
 
  . the obligation, if any, of the Corporation to redeem or purchase such
    Junior Subordinated Notes pursuant to any sinking fund, purchase fund or
    analogous provision or at the option of the holder and the terms and
    conditions on which such Junior Subordinated Notes may be redeemed or
    purchased pursuant to such obligation;
 
  . the terms and conditions, if any, on which the Corporation may at its
    option redeem such Junior Subordinated Notes;
 
  . if applicable, the fact that certain terms of the Subordinated Note
    Indenture described below under "--Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance"
    will not apply to such Junior Subordinated Notes;
 
  . the currency, currencies or currency units in which principal and any
    premium and interest on such Junior Subordinated Notes will be payable,
    if other than U.S. dollars, and the manner of determining the equivalent
    of those amounts in U.S. dollars for any purpose;
 
  . if the principal or any premium or interest on such Junior Subordinated
    Notes is payable, at the election of the Corporation or the holder, in
    one or more currencies or currency units other than those in which such
    Junior Subordinated Notes are stated to be payable, then the currency,
    currencies or currency units in which those payments will be made, the
    terms and conditions upon which the election is to be made and the
    amount so payable (or the manner of determining that amount);
 
  . the portion of the principal amount of such Junior Subordinated Notes
    which will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of maturity, if
    other than the entire principal amount;
 
  . whether any such Junior Subordinated Notes will be issuable as global
    securities ("Global Securities") and, if so, the depositary and any
    provisions for the transfer or exchange of the Global Securities, if
    different from those described below under "--Global Securities";
 
  . any addition to, deletion from or change in Events of Default or
    covenants with respect to such Junior Subordinated Notes;
 
  . any index or formula for determining the amount of principal or any
    premium or interest on such Junior Subordinated Notes and the manner of
    determining those amounts;
 
  . if the principal amount payable on the maturity date of such Junior
    Subordinated Notes will not be determinable on any one or more dates
    prior to the maturity date, the amount which will be deemed to be the
    principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the
    principal amount which will be due and payable upon any maturity other
    than the maturity date (or the manner of determining any such amount);
    and
 
  . any other terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes.
 
  Unless the applicable Prospectus Supplement states otherwise, the Junior
Subordinated Notes will be issued only in fully registered form, without
coupons, and there will be no service charge for any registration of transfer
or exchange of the Junior Subordinated Notes. The Corporation may, however,
require payment to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in
connection with such registration of transfer or exchange.
 
 
                                       24

 
  The interest rate and interest and other payment dates of each series of
Junior Subordinated Notes issued to a Trust will correspond to those of the
Preferred Securities of that Trust.
 
  The Subordinated Note Indenture does not contain provisions that afford
holders of Junior Subordinated Notes protection in the event of a highly
leveraged transaction involving the Corporation.
 
Subordination
 
  Each series of Junior Subordinated Notes will be subordinate and junior in
right of payment, to the extent set forth in the Subordinated Note Indenture,
to all Senior Indebtedness of the Corporation. In the event, subject to certain
exceptions, (1) of any payment by, or distribution of assets of, the
Corporation to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or
reorganization of the Corporation, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency or other
proceedings, or (2) that (a) a default (beyond any grace period) has occurred
and is continuing with respect to the payment of principal, interest or any
other monetary amounts due and payable on any Senior Indebtedness or (b) the
maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default
with respect to such Senior Indebtedness, then the holders of all Senior
Indebtedness will be entitled to receive payment, in the case of (1) above, of
all amounts due or to become due upon all Senior Indebtedness and, in the case
of (2) above, of all amounts due on such Senior Indebtedness, or provision will
be made for such payment, before the holders of any series of Junior
Subordinated Notes are entitled to receive payments of principal or interest on
such Junior Subordinated Notes.
 
  The term "Senior Indebtedness" is defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture
to mean, with respect to any series of Subordinated Notes, the principal of,
and premium, if any, and interest on and any other payment in respect of
indebtedness due pursuant to any of the following, whether outstanding at the
date of execution of the Subordinated Note Indenture or thereafter incurred,
created or assumed: (1) all indebtedness of the Corporation evidenced by notes,
debentures, bonds or other securities sold by the Corporation for money or
other obligations for money borrowed, (2) all indebtedness of others of the
kinds described in the preceding clause (1) assumed by or guaranteed in any
manner by the Corporation or in effect guaranteed by the Corporation through an
agreement to purchase, contingent or otherwise, and (3) all renewals,
extensions or refundings of indebtedness of the kinds described in either of
the preceding clauses (1) and (2), unless, in the case of any particular
indebtedness, renewal, extension or refunding, the instrument creating or
evidencing the same or the assumption or guarantee of the same by its terms
provides that such indebtedness, renewal, extension or refunding is not
superior in right of payment to or is equal in right of payment with such
Subordinated Notes. Such Senior Indebtedness will continue to be Senior
Indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions in
the Subordinated Note Indenture irrespective of any amendment, modification or
waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.
 
  The Corporation conducts its business through subsidiaries. Accordingly, the
ability of the Corporation to meet its obligations under the Junior
Subordinated Notes will be dependent on the earnings and cash flows of its
subsidiaries and the ability of its subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance
or repay funds to the Corporation. In addition, the rights of the Corporation
and its creditors to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the
subsidiary's liquidation or recapitalization will be subject to the prior
claims of the subsidiary's creditors.
 
                                       25

 
  Certain future series of Subordinated Notes may rank senior to series of
Junior Subordinated Notes and hence would constitute Senior Indebtedness with
respect to those series.
 
  The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the amount of Senior
Indebtedness that the Corporation may issue. As of September 30, 1998, Senior
Indebtedness of the Corporation totaled approximately $1,728,797,000.
 
GLOBAL SECURITIES
 
  Some or all of the Subordinated Notes of a series may be represented in whole
or in part by one or more Global Securities deposited with or on behalf of one
or more depositaries.
 
  The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of any
depositary arrangement. The Corporation anticipates that the following
provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements for Subordinated Notes
represented by Global Securities.
 
  Unless the applicable Prospectus Supplement states otherwise, Subordinated
Notes which are to be represented by a Global Security deposited with or on
behalf of a depositary will be represented by a Global Security registered in
the name of that depositary or its nominee. Upon the issuance of a Global
Security in registered form, the depositary for such Global Security will
credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective
principal amount of the Subordinated Notes represented by such Global Security
to the accounts of institutions that have accounts with such depositary or its
nominee ("participants"). The accounts to be credited will be designated by the
underwriters or agents of such Subordinated Notes or by the Corporation, if
such Subordinated Notes are offered and sold directly by the Corporation.
Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Securities will be limited to
participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership
of beneficial interests by participants in such Global Securities will be shown
on, and the transfer of any such ownership interest will be effected only
through, records maintained by the depositary or its nominee for such Global
Security. Ownership of beneficial interests in Global Securities by persons
that hold through participants will be effected only through records maintained
by such participants. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain
purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in
definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability to transfer
beneficial interests in a Global Security.
 
  So long as the depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the
registered owner of such Global Security, such depositary or such nominee, as
the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the
Subordinated Notes represented by such Global Security for all purposes under
the Subordinated Note Indenture. Except as set forth below, owners of
beneficial interests in the Global Security will not be entitled to have the
Subordinated Notes represented by such Global Security registered in their
names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the
Subordinated Notes in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or
holders thereof under the Subordinated Note Indenture.
 
  Payment of principal of and any premium and interest on Subordinated Notes
registered in the name of or held by a depositary or its nominee will be made
in immediately available funds to the
 
                                       26

 
depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner or the
holder of the Global Security representing such Subordinated Notes. None of the
Corporation, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, any paying agent or the
registrar and transfer agent for such Subordinated Notes will have any
responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or
payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in a Global
Security for such Subordinated Notes or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
 
  The Corporation expects that a depositary for Subordinated Notes of a series,
upon receipt of any payment of principal or any premium or interest in respect
of a Global Security, will credit immediately participants' accounts with
payment in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in
the principal amount of such Global Security as shown on the records of such
depositary. The Corporation also expects that payments by participants to
owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security held through such
participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices,
as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers
registered in "street name," and will be the responsibility of such
participants.
 
  A Global Security may not be transferred in whole or in part except by the
depositary for such Global Security to a nominee of such depositary or by a
nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such
depositary or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor depositary
or a nominee of such successor depositary. If a depositary for Subordinated
Notes of a series is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary
and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Corporation within 90 days
or if at any time the depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 when the depositary is required to be
registered to act as such depositary and no successor is appointed by the
Corporation within 90 days, then the Corporation will issue Subordinated Notes
in definitive registered form in exchange for the Global Security or Global
Securities representing such Subordinated Notes. In addition, the Corporation
may at any time determine not to have any Subordinated Notes represented by one
or more Global Securities and, in such event, will issue Subordinated Notes in
definitive registered form in exchange for the Global Securities representing
such Subordinated Notes. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial
interest in a Global Security will be entitled to physical delivery in
definitive form of Subordinated Notes represented by such Global Security equal
in principal amount to such beneficial interest and to have such Subordinated
Notes registered in its name.
 
Events of Default
 
  The following will be Events of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture
with respect to each series of Junior Subordinated Notes (unless not applicable
to the particular series or unless deleted or modified in a supplemental
indenture as stated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement):
 
  . failure to pay principal of or any premium on any Junior Subordinated
    Note of that series when due;
 
  . failure to pay any interest on any Junior Subordinated Note of that
    series when due, continued for 60 days; provided, however, that the date
    on which such payment is due and payable will be the date on which the
    Corporation is required to make payment following any deferral of
    interest payments by the Corporation under the terms of such Junior
    Subordinated Notes;
 
 
                                       27

 
  .  failure to perform any covenant of the Corporation in the Subordinated
    Note Indenture (other than a covenant that is solely for the benefit of
    other series), continued for 90 days after the Subordinated Indenture
    Trustee or the holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the
    outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of that series give written notice
    of the default (unless the Subordinated Indenture Trustee or the
    Subordinated Indenture Trustee and the holders of a principal amount of
    Junior Subordinated Notes of that series not less than the principal
    amount of Junior Subordinated Notes the holders of which had given notice
    of default extend that time period) (the Subordinated Indenture Trustee,
    or the Subordinated Indenture Trustee and such holders, as the case may
    be, will be deemed to have agreed to such an extension if the Corporation
    has initiated and is diligently pursuing corrective action); and
 
  . certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
    Corporation.
 
  If an Event of Default with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of a series
occurs and is continuing, then the Subordinated Indenture Trustee or the
holders of not less than 33% in principal amount of the outstanding Junior
Subordinated Notes of that series may, by notice to the Corporation (and to the
Subordinated Indenture Trustee if given by holders), declare to be immediately
due and payable the principal amount of all Junior Subordinated Notes of that
series. However, that Event of Default will be deemed waived at any time after
the declaration of acceleration but before a judgment or decree for payment of
the money due has been obtained if:
 
  . the Corporation has paid or deposited with the Subordinated Indenture
    Trustee all overdue interest, the principal of and any premium due
    otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon,
    and any interest on overdue interest (to the extent permitted by
    applicable law), in each case with respect to the Junior Subordinated
    Notes of such series, and all amounts due to the Subordinated Indenture
    Trustee under the Subordinated Note Indenture; and
 
  . all Events of Default with respect to that series (other than the
    nonpayment of the principal which became due solely by such declaration
    of acceleration) have been cured or waived.
 
  A holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Corporation, without first instituting a legal proceeding against
the Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment
to such holder of principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes of
the related series having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation
amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates
specified in the Junior Subordinated Notes of that series.
 
  Subject to the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture relating to the
duties of the Subordinated Indenture Trustee in case of a continuing Event of
Default, the Subordinated Indenture Trustee will be under no obligation to
exercise any of its rights or powers under the Subordinated Note Indenture at
the request or direction of any of the holders unless those holders have
offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which
the Subordinated Indenture Trustee might incur as a result. Subject to such
provisions for indemnification and to certain other rights of the Subordinated
Indenture Trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Subordinated Notes of any series have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the
Subordinated Indenture Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on
the Subordinated Indenture Trustee with respect to the
 
                                       28

 
Subordinated Notes of that series. The Subordinated Indenture Trustee may
withhold notice to the holders of Subordinated Notes of any series of any
default (except in payment of principal or interest) with respect to that
series if the Subordinated Indenture Trustee in good faith considers it in the
interest of holders to do so.
 
  No holder of a Junior Subordinated Note of any series will have any right to
institute a proceeding with respect to the Subordinated Note Indenture or for
any remedy under the Subordinated Note Indenture unless:
 
  . that holder has previously given the Subordinated Indenture Trustee
    written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
    Junior Subordinated Notes of that series;
 
  . the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Junior
    Subordinated Notes of that series have made written request to institute
    the proceeding;
 
  . such holder or holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the
    Subordinated Indenture Trustee;
 
  . the Subordinated Indenture Trustee has failed to institute the proceeding
    for 60 days after receipt of the notice and offer of indemnity; and
 
  . the Subordinated Indenture Trustee has not received from the holders of a
    majority in principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes
    of that series a direction inconsistent with the written request.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder of any Junior Subordinated Note will
have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of
and any premium and, subject to certain limitations, interest on that Junior
Subordinated Note on its maturity date (or, in the case of redemption, the date
of redemption) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment.
 
  The Corporation is required to furnish annually to the Subordinated Indenture
Trustee an officers' certificate to the effect that, to the best knowledge of
the officers providing the certificate, the Corporation is not in default under
the Subordinated Note Indenture or, if there has been a default, specifying the
default and its status.
 
Registration and Transfer
 
  If Junior Subordinated Notes of a series are to be redeemed, the Corporation
will not be required to:
 
  . issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Junior Subordinated
    Notes of that series during the 15 days immediately preceding the date
    notice is mailed identifying the Junior Subordinated Notes that are
    called for redemption; or
 
  . register the transfer of or exchange any Junior Subordinated Note
    selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed
    portion of any Junior Subordinated Note being redeemed in part.
 
Denominations
 
  Junior Subordinated Notes will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any
integral multiples of $1,000, unless the applicable Prospectus Supplement
states otherwise.
 
                                       29

 
Payment and Paying Agent
 
  Principal of Junior Subordinated Notes will be paid only against surrender of
the Junior Subordinated Notes to the paying agent. Unless the applicable
Prospectus Supplement states otherwise, interest on Junior Subordinated Notes
will be payable, subject to surrender if applicable, at the office of the
paying agent or, at the option of the Corporation, (1) by wire transfer to an
account at a banking institution in the United States that the person entitled
to the interest designates in writing to the Subordinated Indenture Trustee at
least 16 days prior to the date of payment or (2) by check mailed to the
address of the person entitled to the interest as such address appears in the
security register for such Junior Subordinated Notes.
 
  Unless the applicable Prospectus Supplement states otherwise, the
Subordinated Indenture Trustee will act as paying agent for the Junior
Subordinated Notes, and the principal corporate trust office of the
Subordinated Indenture Trustee will serve as the office through which the
paying agent acts. The Corporation may, however, designate additional paying
agents, rescind the designation of any paying agents or approve a change in the
office through which any paying agent acts.
 
  All moneys that the Corporation has paid to a paying agent for payment of
principal of or interest on Junior Subordinated Notes which remain unclaimed at
the end of two years after such principal or interest has become due and
payable will be repaid to the Corporation at the Corporation's request. Holders
will thereafter look only to the Corporation for such payments.
 
Modification; Waiver
 
  The Corporation and the Subordinated Indenture Trustee may, with certain
exceptions, amend or modify the Subordinated Note Indenture with the consent of
the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Subordinated Notes of all series of Subordinated Notes affected by the
amendment or modification (voting as one class). No amendment or modification
may, however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding
Subordinated Note affected thereby:
 
  . change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of
    principal of or interest on, any Subordinated Note;
 
  . reduce the principal amount of, the rate of interest on, or any premium
    payable upon the redemption of any Subordinated Note;
 
  . reduce the amount of principal of any Subordinated Note due and payable
    upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;
 
  . change the currency of payment of principal of, or any premium or
    interest on, any Subordinated Note;
 
  . impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
    payment on any Subordinated Note on or after the stated maturity (or date
    of redemption);
 
  . reduce the percentage in principal amount of Subordinated Notes of any
    series, the consent of whose holders is required to amend or modify the
    Subordinated Note Indenture, to waive compliance with certain provisions
    of the Subordinated Note Indenture or to waive certain defaults; or
 
  . with certain exceptions, modify the foregoing provisions or the sections
    of the Subordinated Note Indenture governing waiver of certain covenants
    and past defaults.
 
                                       30

 
In addition, the Corporation and the Subordinated Indenture Trustee may execute
supplemental indentures to create new series of Subordinated Notes and for
certain other purposes, without the consent of any holders of Subordinated
Notes.
 
  The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Subordinated Notes of any series may waive, for that series, the Corporation's
compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the Subordinated Note
Indenture. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Subordinated Notes of all series under the Subordinated Note
Indenture with respect to which a default has occurred and is continuing
(voting as one class) may waive that default for all such series, except a
default in the payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, any
Subordinated Note of such series or a default with respect to a covenant or
provision under the Subordinated Note Indenture which cannot be amended or
modified without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Subordinated
Note affected.
 
  The Subordinated Note Indenture may not be amended to alter the subordination
of any Junior Subordinated Notes or any other Subordinated Notes without the
written consent of each holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding that
would be adversely affected.
 
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer
 
  The Subordinated Note Indenture provides that the Corporation may consolidate
or merge with or into another corporation or other entity of a sort specified
in the Subordinated Note Indenture, or convey or transfer its properties and
assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any such entity;
provided, however, that the successor, if any, assumes by supplemental
indenture the Corporation's obligations under the Subordinated Note Indenture
and the Subordinated Notes issued thereunder and the Corporation delivers an
officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel to the Subordinated Indenture
Trustee stating that all conditions precedent in the Subordinated Note
Indenture relating to the consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer have
been complied with. Upon the assumption by the successor of the Corporation's
obligations under the Subordinated Note Indenture and the Subordinated Notes
issued thereunder and the satisfaction of any other conditions precedent
provided for in the Subordinated Note Indenture, the successor will succeed to
and be substituted for the Corporation under the Subordinated Note Indenture,
and the Corporation will be relieved of its obligations under the Subordinated
Note Indenture and the Subordinated Notes.
 
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
 
  The Subordinated Note Indenture provides, unless the terms of the particular
series of Subordinated Notes provides otherwise, that the Corporation may cause
itself to be:
 
  . discharged from its obligations (with certain exceptions) with respect
    to any Subordinated Notes or series of Subordinated Notes
    ("Defeasance"); and
 
  . released from its obligations under certain covenants especially
    established with respect to such series ("Covenant Defeasance"),
 
in each case on and after the date the Corporation satisfies certain conditions
in the Subordinated Note Indenture. Those conditions include the irrevocable
deposit with the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, in trust, of money and/or
Government Obligations (as defined in the Subordinated Note
 
                                       31

 
Indenture) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest
thereon would provide sufficient moneys to pay the principal of and any premium
and interest on those Subordinated Notes on the maturity dates of those
payments or upon redemption.
 
  The Subordinated Note Indenture permits Defeasance with respect to any
Subordinated Notes of a series even if a prior Covenant Defeasance has occurred
with respect to Subordinated Notes of that series. Following a Defeasance,
payment of the Subordinated Notes defeased may not be accelerated because of an
Event of Default. Following a Covenant Defeasance, payment of Subordinated
Notes may not be accelerated by reference to the covenants noted in the
definition of Covenant Defeasance above. However, if such an acceleration were
to occur, the realizable value at the acceleration date of the money and
Government Obligations in the defeasance trust could be less than the principal
and interest then due on such Subordinated Notes since the required deposit in
the defeasance trust would be based upon scheduled cash flows rather than
market value, which would vary depending upon interest rates and other factors.
 
  Under current United States federal income tax laws, the Defeasance
contemplated in the preceding paragraphs would be treated as an exchange of the
relevant Subordinated Notes in which holders of Subordinated Notes might
recognize gain or loss. In addition, the amount, timing and character of
amounts that holders would be required thereafter to include in income might be
different from that which would be includible in the absence of such
Defeasance. Prospective investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors
as to the specific consequences of a Defeasance, including the applicability
and effect of tax laws other than United States federal income tax laws.
 
  Under current United States federal income tax laws, unless accompanied by
other changes in the terms of the Subordinated Notes, Covenant Defeasance
should not be treated as a taxable exchange.
 
Information Concerning the Subordinated Indenture Trustee
 
  The Chase Manhattan Bank, which is the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, also
serves as the Senior Indenture Trustee and as Property Trustee and Guarantee
Trustee. The Corporation and certain of its affiliates maintain deposit
accounts and banking relationships with The Chase Manhattan Bank.
 
Governing Law
 
  The Subordinated Note Indenture and the Subordinated Notes (including the
Junior Subordinated Notes) will be governed by the internal laws of the State
of New York.
 
 
                                       32

 
                    DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
  Each Trust may issue only one series of Preferred Securities. The Trust
Agreement of each Trust will authorize the Administrative Trustees to issue the
Preferred Securities of that Trust on behalf of the Trust.
 
  The Preferred Securities of each Trust will have such terms--including
distribution, redemption, voting and liquidation rights, and such other
preferred, deferral or other special rights or such restrictions--as are set
forth in the Trust Agreement of that Trust. Reference is made to the Prospectus
Supplement relating to the Preferred Securities of a Trust for specific terms,
including:
 
  . the designation of the Preferred Securities;
 
  . the number of Preferred Securities issued by the Trust;
 
  . the annual distribution rate (or method of determining such rate) for
    the Preferred Securities and the date or dates on which distributions
    are payable;
 
  . the date or dates, or method of determining the date or dates, from
    which distributions on the Preferred Securities will be cumulative;
 
  . the amount or amounts that will be paid out of the assets of the Trust
    to the holders of the Preferred Securities upon the voluntary or
    involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust;
 
  . the obligation, if any, of the Trust to purchase or redeem the Preferred
    Securities and the price or prices at which, the period or periods
    within which, and the terms and conditions upon which the Preferred
    Securities will be purchased or redeemed, in whole or in part, pursuant
    to that obligation;
 
  . any voting rights of the Preferred Securities in addition to those
    required by law, including any requirement for approval by the holders
    of Preferred Securities as a condition to specified action or amendments
    to the Trust Agreement of the Trust;
 
  . the right, if any, to defer distributions on the Preferred Securities
    upon extension of the interest payment period on the related Junior
    Subordinated Notes; and
 
  . any other relative rights, preferences, privileges, limitations or
    restrictions of the Preferred Securities not inconsistent with the Trust
    Agreement of the Trust or applicable law.
 
  The Corporation will guarantee all Preferred Securities offered hereby to the
extent set forth under "Description of the Guarantees."
 
  Any material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to an
offering of Preferred Securities will be described in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
 
                                       33

 
                         DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEES
 
  A summary of information about the Guarantees that the Corporation will
execute and deliver for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities
of the respective Trusts from time to time is set forth below. The summary does
not purport to be complete and is subject in all respects to the provisions of,
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Guarantees and the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939. The Corporation has filed the form of the Guarantee as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
 
  Each Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939. The Chase Manhattan Bank will act as indenture trustee under each
Guarantee (the "Guarantee Trustee") for purposes of such Act. The terms of each
Guarantee will be those set forth in that Guarantee and those made part of that
Guarantee by such Act.
 
  Each Guarantee will be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the
holders of the Preferred Securities to which it relates.
 
General
 
  Under each Guarantee, the Corporation will irrevocably and unconditionally
agree, to the extent set forth in the Guarantee, to pay the Guarantee Payments
(as defined below) in full to the holders of the Preferred Securities to which
the Guarantee relates, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of the related
Trust, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the
Corporation may have or assert against any person.
 
  The following payments or distributions (without duplication) with respect to
the Preferred Securities of any Trust, to the extent not paid or made by or on
behalf of such Trust (the "Guarantee Payments"), will be subject to the related
Guarantee:
 
  . any accrued and unpaid distributions required to be paid on the
    Preferred Securities of the Trust, but if and only if and to the extent
    that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor;
 
  . the redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid distributions to
    the date of redemption, with respect to any Preferred Securities called
    for redemption by the Trust, but if and only to the extent the Trust has
    funds legally and immediately available therefor; and
 
  . upon a dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust (other than
    in connection with the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the
    holders of Trust Securities of the Trust or the redemption of all of the
    Preferred Securities of the Trust), the lesser of (1) the aggregate of
    the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid distributions on the
    Preferred Securities of the Trust to the date of payment, to the extent
    the Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor, and (2)
    the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution
    to holders of Preferred Securities of the Trust in liquidation of the
    Trust.
 
  The Corporation's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by
the Corporation's directly paying the required amounts to the holders of the
related Preferred Securities or by causing the related Trust to pay such
amounts to those holders.
 
                                       34

 
  Each Guarantee will be a full and unconditional guarantee, subject to certain
subordination provisions, of the Guarantee Payments with respect to the related
Preferred Securities from the time of issuance of those Preferred Securities,
but will not apply to the payment of distributions and other payments on those
Preferred Securities when the related Trust does not have sufficient funds
legally and immediately available to make such distributions or other payments.
 
  If the Corporation does not make the required payments on the Junior
Subordinated Notes held by the Property Trustee under a Trust, that Trust will
not make the related payments on its Preferred Securities.
 
Subordination
 
  The Corporation's obligations under each Guarantee to make the Guarantee
Payments will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Corporation and will
rank:
 
  . subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of
    the Corporation, including the Junior Subordinated Notes, except those
    obligations or liabilities made equal in priority or subordinate by
    their terms;
 
  . equal in priority with the most senior preferred stock that may be
    issued by the Corporation; and
 
  . senior to all common stock of the Corporation.
 
  The terms of the Preferred Securities will provide that each holder of
Preferred Securities by acceptance thereof agrees to the subordination
provisions and other terms of the applicable Guarantee.
 
  Each Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection
(that is, the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the guarantor to enforce its rights under the guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity).
 
Amendments and Assignment
 
  No consent of the holders of Preferred Securities will be required with
respect to any changes in a Guarantee that do not materially and adversely
affect the rights of holders of those Preferred Securities. Other amendments to
a Guarantee may be made only with the prior approval of the holders of not less
than 66 2/3% in liquidation amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities to
which the Guarantee relates. All guarantees and agreements contained in a
Guarantee will bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Corporation and will inure to the benefit of the holders
of the related Preferred Securities then outstanding.
 
Termination
 
  Each Guarantee will terminate and be of no further force and effect as to the
related Preferred Securities upon:
 
  . full payment of the redemption price of the related Preferred
    Securities;
 
  . distribution of the related Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of
    those Preferred Securities; or
 
  . full payment of the amounts payable upon liquidation of the related
    Trust.
 
                                       35

 
  Each Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the
case may be, if at any time any holder of the Preferred Securities to which the
Guarantee relates must restore payment of any sums paid with respect to those
Preferred Securities or under the Guarantee.
 
Events of Default
 
  An event of default under a Guarantee will occur upon the failure by the
Corporation to perform any of its payment obligations under that Guarantee.
 
  The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities
to which the Guarantee relates have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee
Trustee in respect of the Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or
power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under that Guarantee. Any holder of
the Preferred Securities to which the Guarantee relates may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Corporation to enforce its rights under the
Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee
Trustee or any other person or entity.
 
  The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities of
any series may, by vote, on behalf of the holders of all the Preferred
Securities of that series, waive any past event of default and its
consequences.
 
Information Concerning the Guarantee Trustee
 
  Prior to the occurrence of an event of default with respect to a Guarantee
and after the curing or waiving of all events of default with respect to that
Guarantee, the Guarantee Trustee undertakes to perform only those duties as are
specifically set forth in that Guarantee. In case an event of default has
occurred and has not been cured or waived, the Guarantee Trustee will exercise
the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct
of his or her own affairs. Subject to these provisions, the Guarantee Trustee
is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by a
Guarantee at the request of any holder of the related Preferred Securities,
unless offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
which the Guarantee Trustee might incur as a result.
 
  The Chase Manhattan Bank will be the Guarantee Trustee with respect to each
Guarantee. The Chase Manhattan Bank will also serve as Property Trustee,
Subordinated Indenture Trustee and Senior Indenture Trustee. The Corporation
and certain of its affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking
relationships with The Chase Manhattan Bank.
 
Governing Law
 
  Each Guarantee will be governed by the internal laws of the State of New
York.
 
Agreements as to Expenses and Liabilities
 
  The Corporation will enter into an Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities
under each Trust Agreement. Each Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities will
provide that the Corporation will irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee to
each person or entity to whom the related Trust becomes indebted or liable the
full payment of any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of that Trust, other
than obligations of the Trust to pay to the holders of the related Preferred
Securities or other similar interests in that Trust the amounts due such
holders under the terms of those Preferred Securities or similar interests.
 
                                       36

 
                              ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
 
  Each Trust will be treated as a subsidiary of the Corporation for financial
reporting purposes. Accordingly, the accounts of the Trusts will be included in
the Corporation's consolidated financial statements. The Preferred Securities
will be presented as a separate line item in the Corporation's consolidated
balance sheets, entitled "Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in
Corporation's Subordinated Notes." For financial reporting purposes, the
Corporation will record distributions payable on the Preferred Securities as an
expense in the consolidated statement of income.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
  The Corporation may sell the Senior Notes and the Junior Subordinated Notes
and the Trusts may sell the Preferred Securities in one or more of the
following ways from time to time:
 
  . to underwriters for resale to the public or to institutional investors;
 
  . directly to institutional investors; or
 
  . through agents to the public or to institutional investors.
 
  The Prospectus Supplement for each series of Senior Notes, Junior
Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities will set forth the terms of the
offering of those Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred
Securities, including the name or names of any underwriters or agents. The
Prospectus Supplement for each series of Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated
Notes or Preferred Securities will also set forth the purchase price of such
Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities, the proceeds
to the Corporation or the applicable Trust from such sale, any underwriting
discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters' or agents'
compensation, any initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions
allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers, and any securities exchange on which
such Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities may be
listed.
 
  If underwriters participate in the sale, such Senior Notes, Junior
Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities will be acquired by the underwriters
for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more
transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering
price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale.
 
  Unless the applicable Prospectus Supplement states otherwise, the obligations
of the underwriters to purchase any series of Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated
Notes or Preferred Securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent
and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of Senior
Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities, if any are purchased.
 
  Underwriters and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with
the Corporation and/or the applicable Trust to indemnification against certain
civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
Underwriters and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services
for, the Corporation in the ordinary course of business.
 
  Each series of Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred
Securities will be a new issue of securities and will have no established
trading market. Any underwriters to whom Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated
Notes or Preferred Securities are sold for public offering and sale may
 
                                       37

 
make a market in those Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred
Securities. However, those underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may
discontinue any market making at any time without notice.
 
  The Senior Notes, Junior Subordinated Notes or Preferred Securities may or
may not be listed on a national securities exchange.
 
                           VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES
 
  Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware, special Delaware
counsel to the Corporation and the Trusts, will pass upon certain matters of
Delaware law relating to the validity of the Preferred Securities on behalf of
the Corporation and the Trusts. Dewey Ballantine LLP, New York, New York, will
pass upon the validity of the Senior Notes, the Junior Subordinated Notes and
the Guarantees and certain related matters on behalf of the Corporation.
Sullivan & Cromwell, New York, New York, will pass upon the validity of the
Senior Notes, the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Guarantees for the
underwriters or agents.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
  The consolidated financial statements included in the Form 10, which are
incorporated in this Prospectus by reference, have been audited by Deloitte &
Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report which is
incorporated in this Prospectus by reference, and have been so incorporated in
reliance upon such report given upon the authority of that firm as experts in
accounting and auditing. The consolidated financial statements included in
PanEnergy's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996
have been incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and in the Registration
Statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent certified public
accountants, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, and upon the
authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                                       38


 
 
                                    [     ]
                              Preferred Securities
 
                                  Duke Capital
                              Financing Trust [  ]
 
                     % Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities
                              (Liquidation amount
                           $  per Preferred Security)
 
                     Fully and unconditionally guaranteed,
                            as set forth herein, by
 
                                  Duke Capital
                                  Corporation
                    a subsidiary of Duke Energy Corporation
 
                       -------------------------------
 
                             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
 
                       -------------------------------
 
                            [Names of Underwriters]
 
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



 
                                    PART II.
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution:
 
The estimated expenses of issuance and distribution, other than underwriting
discounts and commissions, to be borne by the Corporation are as follows:
 

                                                                 
      Securities and Exchange Commission Filing Fee................ $  278,000*
      Trustee Fees and Expenses....................................     40,000
      Listing Fees of New York Stock Exchange......................    166,000
      Printing Costs...............................................    155,000
      Legal Fees and Expenses......................................    175,000
      Accounting Fees..............................................     25,000
      Blue Sky Fees and Expenses...................................     22,000
      Rating Agency Fees...........................................    270,000
      Miscellaneous................................................      4,000
                                                                    ----------
        Total...................................................... $1,135,000
                                                                    ==========

     --------
     * Actual
 
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
 
Section 2 of Article X of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation provides as follows:
 
"(a) Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is
threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that such person, or a
person of whom such person is the legal representative, is or was a director or
officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the
Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or
of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service
with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is
alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or
agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee
or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the
fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be
amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such
amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights
than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment),
against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments,
fines, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, and excise taxes or penalties
arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as in effect
from time to time) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection
therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased
to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of
such person's heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that,
except as provided in paragraph (b) hereof, the Corporation shall indemnify any
such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part
thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was
authorized by the Board. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section
shall be a contract right and shall include the right to have the Corporation
pay the expenses incurred in
 
                                      II-1

 
defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; any advance
payments to be paid by the Corporation within 20 calendar days after the
receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from the claimant
requesting such advance or advances from time to time; provided, however, that,
if and to the extent the DGCL requires, the payment of such expenses incurred
by a director or officer in such person's capacity as a director or officer
(and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such
person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to
an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding,
shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on
behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it
shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to
be indemnified under this Section or otherwise. The Corporation may, to the
extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to
indemnification, and rights to have the Corporation pay the expenses incurred
in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, to any
employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of
this Article with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of
directors and officers of the Corporation.
 
"(b) Right of Claimant to Bring Suit. If a claim under paragraph (a) of this
Section is not paid in full by the Corporation within 30 calendar days after a
written claim has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at any
time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount
of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be
entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a
defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for
expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final
disposition where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been
tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standard of
conduct which makes it permissible under the DGCL for the Corporation to
indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such
defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation
(including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such
action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances
because the claimant has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board
of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant
has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the
action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable
standard of conduct.
 
"(c) Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The right of indemnification and the payment of
expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition
conferred in this Section shall not be exclusive of any other right which any
person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation, By-Law, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise. No repeal or modification of this Article
shall in any way diminish or adversely affect the rights of any director,
officer, employee or agent of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any
occurrence or matter arising prior to any such repeal or modification.
 
"(d) Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to
protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation
or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the
 
                                      II-2

 
Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense,
liability or loss under the DGCL."
 
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law gives corporations the
power to indemnify officers and directors under certain circumstances.
 
Item 16. Exhibits.
 


 Exhibit
 Number
 -------
      
  1.1    -- Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Senior Notes.
  1.2    -- Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Junior Subordinated
            Notes.
  1.3    -- Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Trust Preferred
            Securities.
  4.1    -- Senior Indenture between Duke Capital Corporation and The Chase
            Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, dated as of April 1, 1998.
  4.2    -- Form of Supplemental Indenture to Senior Indenture to be used in
            connection with the issuance of Senior Notes.
  4.3    -- Subordinated Indenture between Duke Capital Corporation and The
            Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, dated as of April 1, 1998.
  4.4-A  -- Form of Supplemental Indenture to Subordinated Indenture to be used
            in connection with the issuance of Junior Subordinated Notes.
  4.4-B  -- Form of Supplemental Indenture to Subordinated Indenture to be used
            in connection with the issuance of Junior Subordinated Notes
            relating to Trust Preferred Securities.
  4.5-A  -- Certificate of Trust of Duke Capital Financing Trust III.
  4.5-B  -- Certificate of Trust of Duke Capital Financing Trust IV.
  4.5-C  -- Certificate of Trust of Duke Capital Financing Trust V.
  4.6-A  -- Trust Agreement of Duke Capital Financing Trust III.
  4.6-B  -- Trust Agreement of Duke Capital Financing Trust IV.
  4.6-C  -- Trust Agreement of Duke Capital Financing Trust V.
  4.7    -- Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (Agreements for Duke
            Capital Financing Trust III, Duke Capital Financing Trust IV and
            Duke Capital Financing Trust V will be substantially identical
            except for names and dates).
  4.8    -- Form of Trust Preferred Security for Duke Capital Financing Trust
            III, Duke Capital Financing Trust IV and Duke Capital Financing
            Trust V (included in Exhibit 4.7 above).
  4.9    -- Form of Senior Note (included in Exhibit 4.2 above).
  4.10   -- Form of Junior Subordinated Note (included in Exhibits 4.4-A and
            4.4-B above).
  4.11   -- Form of Guarantee Agreement (Agreements for Duke Capital Financing
            Trust III, Duke Capital Financing Trust IV and Duke Capital
            Financing Trust V will be substantially identical except for names
            and dates).
  4.12   -- Form of Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities (included in
            Exhibit 4.7 above).
  5.1    -- Opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP.
  5.2-A  -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. relating to Duke Capital
            Financing Trust III.
  5.2-B  -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. relating to Duke Capital
            Financing Trust IV.
  5.2-C  -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. relating to Duke Capital
            Financing Trust V.
  8      -- Tax Opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP.
 12      -- Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
 23.1    -- Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
 23.2    -- Consent of KPMG LLP.
 23.3    -- Consent of Dewey Ballantine LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 above).
 23.4    -- Consent of Dewey Ballantine LLP (included in Exhibit 8 above).
 23.5    -- Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (included in Exhibit
            5.2-A, 5.2-B and 5.2-C above).
 24.1    -- Power of Attorney of certain officers and directors of Duke Capital
            Corporation.

 
                                      II-3

 


 Exhibit
 Number
 -------
      
 24.2    -- Resolution of Duke Capital Corporation re: Power of Attorney.
 25.1    -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Senior Indenture Trustee.
 25.2    -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Subordinated Indenture
            Trustee.
 25.3-A  -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Property Trustee under
            Duke Capital Financing Trust III.
 25.3-B  -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Property Trustee under
            Duke Capital Financing Trust IV.
 25.3-C  -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Property Trustee under
            Duke Capital Financing Trust V.
 25.4-A  -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Guarantee Trustee with
            respect to Duke Capital Financing Trust III.
 25.4-B  -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Guarantee Trustee with
            respect to Duke Capital Financing Trust IV.
 25.4-C  -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Guarantee Trustee with
            respect to Duke Capital Financing Trust V.

 
Item 17. Undertakings.
 
(a) Undertaking related to Rule 415 offering:
 
The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:
 
(1) 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 of 1933 (the "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;
notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities
offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that
which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the
estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum
aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee"
table in the effective registration statement;
 
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement;
 
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
registration statement is on Form S-3, S-8 or F-3 and the information required
to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained
in periodic reports filed by the registrants pursuant to Section 13 or Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference
in the registration statement.
 
                                      II-4

 
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Act, each such
post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of
the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
 
(b) Undertaking related to filings incorporating subsequent Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 documents by reference:
 
The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that, for purposes of determining
any liability under the Act, each filing of Duke Capital Corporation's annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
(c) Undertaking related to acceleration of effectiveness:
 
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of each undersigned
registrant pursuant to the indemnification provisions described in Item 15
above or in contractual arrangements pursuant thereto, or otherwise, each
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by each
undersigned registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of each registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, each registrant will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
(d) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that:
 
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Act, the information
omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration
statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus
filed by the registrants pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or 497(h) under the Act
shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was
declared effective:
 
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Act, each post-
effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
 
                                      II-5

 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant,
Duke Capital Corporation, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly
caused this registration statement or amendment thereto to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Charlotte, North
Carolina, on the 27th day of January, 1999.
 
                                                DUKE CAPITAL CORPORATION
 
                                                      
                                                  By: R. B. Priory
                                                      Chairman of the Board,
                                                      President and Chief
                                                      Executive Officer
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration
statement or amendment thereto has been signed by the following directors and
officers of Duke Capital Corporation in the capacities and on the date
indicated.
 


            Signature                            Title                       Date
            ---------                            -----                       ----
                                                             
            R. B. Priory             Chairman of the Board,           January 27, 1999
                                     President and Chief
                                     Executive Officer (Principal
                                     Executive Officer)
           R. J. Osborne             Vice President and               January 27, 1999
                                     Chief Financial Officer
                                     (Principal Financial
                                     Officer)
            J. L. Boyer              Controller (Principal            January 27, 1999
                                     Accounting Officer)
 
            F. J. Fowler
            R. S. Lilien             A majority of the Directors      January 27, 1999
           R. J. Osborne
            R. B. Priory

 
Robert T. Lucas III, by signing his name hereto, does hereby sign this document
on behalf of Duke Capital Corporation and on behalf of each of the above-named
persons pursuant to a power of attorney duly executed by Duke Capital
Corporation and such persons, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
as an exhibit hereto.
 
                                                 /s/ Robert T. Lucas III
                                          -------------------------------------
                                                   Robert T. Lucas III
                                                    Attorney-in-fact
 
                                      II-6

 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Duke Capital
Financing Trust III certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
registration statement or amendment thereto to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Charlotte, North Carolina, on the
27th day of January, 1999.
 
                                          DUKE CAPITAL FINANCING TRUST III
 
                                          By: Duke Capital Corporation,
                                              Depositor
 
                                                 /s/ Robert T. Lucas III
                                          By: _________________________________
                                                   Robert T. Lucas III
                                                   Assistant Secretary
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Duke Capital
Financing Trust IV certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
registration statement or amendment thereto to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Charlotte, North Carolina, on the
27th day of January, 1999.
 
                                          DUKE CAPITAL FINANCING TRUST IV
 
                                          By: Duke Capital Corporation,
                                              Depositor
 
                                                 /s/ Robert T. Lucas III
                                          By: _________________________________
                                                   Robert T. Lucas III
                                                   Assistant Secretary
 
                                      II-7

 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Duke Capital
Financing Trust V certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
registration statement or amendment thereto to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Charlotte, North Carolina, on the
27th day of January, 1999.
 
                                          DUKE CAPITAL FINANCING TRUST V
 
                                          By: Duke Capital Corporation,
                                              Depositor
 
                                                 /s/ Robert T. Lucas III
                                          By: _________________________________
                                                   Robert T. Lucas III
                                                   Assistant Secretary
 
                                     II-8

 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 


 Exhibit
 Number                                  Exhibit
 -------                                 -------
      
  1.1    -- Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Senior Notes.
  1.2    -- Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Junior Subordinated
            Notes.
  1.3    -- Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Trust Preferred
            Securities.
  4.1    -- Senior Indenture between Duke Capital Corporation and The Chase
            Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, dated as of April 1, 1998.
  4.2    -- Form of Supplemental Indenture to Senior Indenture to be used in
            connection with the issuance of Senior Notes.
  4.3    -- Subordinated Indenture between Duke Capital Corporation and The
            Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, dated as of April 1, 1998.
  4.4-A  -- Form of Supplemental Indenture to Subordinated Indenture to be used
            in connection with the issuance of Junior Subordinated Notes.
  4.4-B  -- Form of Supplemental Indenture to Subordinated Indenture to be used
            in connection with the issuance of Junior Subordinated Notes
            relating to Trust Preferred Securities.
  4.5-A  -- Certificate of Trust of Duke Capital Financing Trust III.
  4.5-B  -- Certificate of Trust of Duke Capital Financing Trust IV.
  4.5-C  -- Certificate of Trust of Duke Capital Financing Trust V.
  4.6-A  -- Trust Agreement of Duke Capital Financing Trust III.
  4.6-B  -- Trust Agreement of Duke Capital Financing Trust IV.
  4.6-C  -- Trust Agreement of Duke Capital Financing Trust V.
  4.7    -- Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (Agreements for Duke
            Capital Financing Trust III, Duke Capital Financing Trust IV and
            Duke Capital Financing Trust V will be substantially identical
            except for names and dates).
  4.8    -- Form of Trust Preferred Security for Duke Capital Financing Trust
            III, Duke Capital Financing Trust IV and Duke Capital Financing
            Trust V (included in Exhibit 4.7 above).
  4.9    -- Form of Senior Note (included in Exhibit 4.2 above).
  4.10   -- Form of Junior Subordinated Note (included in Exhibits 4.4-A and
            4.4-B above).
  4.11   -- Form of Guarantee Agreement (Agreements for Duke Capital Financing
            Trust III, Duke Capital Financing Trust IV and Duke Capital
            Financing Trust V will be substantially identical except for names
            and dates).
  4.12   -- Form of Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities (included in
            Exhibit 4.7 above).
  5.1    -- Opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP.
  5.2-A  -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. relating to Duke Capital
            Financing Trust III.
  5.2-B  -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. relating to Duke Capital
            Financing Trust IV.
  5.2-C  -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. relating to Duke Capital
            Financing Trust V.
  8      -- Tax Opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP.
 12      -- Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
 23.1    -- Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
 23.2    -- Consent of KPMG LLP.
 23.3    -- Consent of Dewey Ballantine LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 above).
 23.4    -- Consent of Dewey Ballantine LLP (included in Exhibit 8 above).


 


 Exhibit
 Number                                  Exhibit
 -------                                 -------
      
 23.5    -- Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (included in Exhibit
            5.2-A, 5.2-B and 5.2-C above).
 24.1    -- Power of Attorney of certain officers and directors of Duke Capital
            Corporation.
 24.2    -- Resolution of Duke Capital Corporation re: Power of Attorney.
 25.1    -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Senior Indenture Trustee.
 25.2    -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Subordinated Indenture
            Trustee.
 25.3-A  -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Property Trustee under
            Duke Capital Financing Trust III.
 25.3-B  -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Property Trustee under
            Duke Capital Financing Trust IV.
 25.3-C  -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Property Trustee under
            Duke Capital Financing Trust V.
 25.4-A  -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Guarantee Trustee with
            respect to Duke Capital Financing Trust III.
 25.4-B  -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Guarantee Trustee with
            respect to Duke Capital Financing Trust IV.
 25.4-C  -- Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
            amended, of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Guarantee Trustee with
            respect to Duke Capital Financing Trust V.