CONSECO LOGO
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
8,000,000 PREFERRED SECURITIES
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST VI
9% TRUST ORIGINATED PREFERRED SECURITIESSM ("TOPRSSM")
 (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25 PER PREFERRED SECURITY)

FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED BY
CONSECO, INC.
A brief description of the preferred securities can be found under
"Summary" in this prospectus supplement.
WE URGE YOU TO CAREFULLY READ THE "RISK FACTORS" SECTION BEGINNING ON PAGE S-5, WHERE WE DESCRIBE SPECIFIC RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE PREFERRED SECURITIES, ALONG WITH THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS, BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR INVESTMENT DECISION.
We plan to list the preferred securities on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol CNCPrG. We expect that the preferred securities will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange within 30 days after they are first issued.

                                                          PER PREFERRED
                                                            SECURITY                 TOTAL
                                                          -------------              -----
Public Offering Price...................................     $25.00               $200,000,000
Underwriting Discount...................................     (1)                      (1)
Proceeds, before expenses, to the Trust.................     $25.00               $200,000,000	

(1) Underwriting commissions of $.7875 per preferred security (or $6,300,000 for all preferred securities) will be paid by Conseco, Inc.
The underwriters may also purchase up to an additional 1,200,000 preferred securities at $25 per preferred security within 30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement to cover over-allotments. Conseco, Inc. will pay an underwriting commission of $.7875 for each such preferred security purchased.
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.
We expect the preferred securities will be ready for delivery in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust Company on or about October 14, 1998.

MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
CIBC OPPENHEIMER
A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
LEHMAN BROTHERS
PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
 SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
The date of this prospectus supplement is October 8, 1998.
(sm)"Trust Originated Preferred Securities" and "TOPrS" are service marks of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                PAGE
                                                                ----
                       PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Summary.....................................................     S-3
Risk Factors................................................     S-5
Conseco Financing Trust VI..................................     S-8
Capitalization..............................................     S-9
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Fixed
  Charges, Preferred Stock Dividends and Distributions on
  Company-obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred
  Securities of Subsidiary Trusts...........................    S-11
Use of Proceeds.............................................    S-12
Selected Consolidated Financial Data........................    S-13
The Company.................................................    S-16
Description of the Preferred Securities.....................    S-18
Description of the Subordinated Debentures..................    S-28
Description of the Trust Guarantee..........................    S-34
Effect of Obligations Under the Subordinated Debentures and
  the Trust Guarantee.......................................    S-34
United States Federal Income Taxation.......................    S-35
ERISA Considerations........................................    S-40
Underwriting................................................    S-41
Legal Matters...............................................    S-44
Experts.....................................................    S-44

                             PROSPECTUS
Available Information.......................................       3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.............       4
The Company.................................................       5
The Conseco Trusts..........................................       5
Use of Proceeds.............................................       6
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Fixed
  Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends and Earnings to
  Fixed Charges, Preferred Stock Dividends and Distributions
  on Company-obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred
  Securities of Subsidiary Trusts...........................       6
Description of Debt Securities..............................       7
Description of Capital Stock................................      16
Description of Depositary Shares............................      20
Description of Warrants.....................................      23
Description of Preferred Securities of the Conseco Trusts...      23
Description of the Trust Guarantees.........................      25
Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase
  Units.....................................................      27
Plan of Distribution........................................      28
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements...........      29
Legal Matters...............................................      30
Experts.....................................................      30	

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the 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 or the prospectus, as well as information we previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus supplement only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
S-2

The following information concerning the Company, the Trust, the Preferred Securities, the Trust Guarantee and the Subordinated Debentures supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the information contained in the accompanying Prospectus. Capitalized terms used in this Prospectus Supplement have the same meaning as in the accompanying Prospectus. Except as otherwise noted, all information in this Prospectus Supplement assumes no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option.
SUMMARY
CONSECO
Conseco, Inc., also referred to as "Conseco" or the "Company," is located at 11825 N. Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032, and its telephone number is (317) 817-6100.
DISTRIBUTIONS
Conseco Financing Trust VI (the "Trust") will sell its preferred securities (the "Preferred Securities") to the public and its common securities (the "Common Securities") to Conseco. The Trust will use the proceeds from these sales to buy a series of 9% Deferrable Interest Subordinated Debentures due December 31, 2028 ("Subordinated Debentures") from Conseco with the same payment terms as the Preferred Securities.
If you purchase the Preferred Securities, you are entitled to receive cumulative cash distributions at an annual rate of 9% of the liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred Security. Distributions will accumulate from the date the Trust issues the Preferred Securities and will be paid quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, beginning December 31, 1998.
DEFERRAL OF DISTRIBUTIONS
So long as no event of default under the Subordinated Debentures has occurred and is continuing, Conseco has the right, at one or more times, to defer interest payments on the Subordinated Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarters, but not beyond the maturity date of the Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of Debt Securities -- Option to Defer Interest Payments" in the accompanying Prospectus. If Conseco defers interest payments on the Subordinated Debentures, the Trust will also defer distributions on the Preferred Securities. During this deferral period, you will still accumulate distributions at an annual rate of 9% of the liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred Security, plus you will accumulate additional distributions at the same rate, compounded quarterly, on any unpaid distributions (to the extent permitted by law). You will also be required to accrue interest income and include it in your gross income for United States federal income tax purposes, even if you are a cash basis taxpayer.
MATURITY AND REDEMPTION
The Subordinated Debentures mature on December 31, 2028, which date may be extended at any time at the election of the Company for one or more periods for up to 20 consecutive quarters, but in no event to a date later than the earlier of (i) December 31, 2047 or (ii) the Interest Deduction Date (as that term is defined under "Description of the Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Change Scheduled Maturity Date"), provided certain financial conditions are met. The maturity date may be shortened to a date not earlier than December 31, 2003 if Conseco chooses to liquidate the Trust and distribute the Subordinated Debentures, subject to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any indebtedness of Conseco which may be outstanding from time to time. See "Risk Factors -- Option to Extend Interest Payment Period; Trading Characteristics; Tax Consequences," "Description of the Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Extend Interest Payment Period," and "United States Federal Income Taxation -- US Holders -- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
The Trust must redeem the Preferred Securities when the Subordinated Debentures are paid at maturity or upon any earlier redemption. Conseco has the option at any time on or after December 31, 2003 to redeem the Subordinated Debentures, in whole or in part, subject to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any indebtedness of the Company which may be outstanding from time to time. In addition, Conseco may redeem the Subordinated Debentures at its option, in whole but not in part, if certain tax events occur or if
S-3

there is a change in the Investment Company Act of 1940 that requires the Trust to register under that law, subject to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any indebtedness of the Company which may be outstanding from time to time. Upon any redemption, you will receive the liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred Security plus any unpaid distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price").
CONSECO'S GUARANTEE OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
Conseco will fully and unconditionally guarantee the Preferred Securities based on:
- its obligations to make payments on the Subordinated Debentures;
- its obligations under the trust guarantee (the "Trust Guarantee"); and
- its obligations under the Declaration (as that term is defined under "Conseco Financing Trust VI").
For discussion of Conseco's obligations listed above, see "Description of the Trust Guarantee" and "Effect of Obligations Under the Subordinated Debentures and the Trust Guarantee" in this Prospectus Supplement and "Description of the Trust Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus.
If Conseco does not make a payment on the Subordinated Debentures, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to make payments on the Preferred Securities. The Trust Guarantee does not cover payments when the Trust does not have sufficient funds.
Conseco's obligations under the Subordinated Debentures are subject to payment on its Senior Indebtedness (as defined) and will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities and obligations of Conseco's subsidiaries, including liabilities and obligations to policyholders. As of June 30, 1998, the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness and liabilities and obligations of Conseco's subsidiaries that would have effectively ranked senior to the Subordinated Debentures was approximately $37 billion.
LIQUIDATION OF THE TRUST
At any time, the Company will have the right, subject to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any indebtedness of the Company which may be outstanding from time to time, to liquidate the Trust and cause the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust.
If the Company elects to liquidate the Trust and thereby causes the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to holders of the Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the Company shall have the right, subject to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any indebtedness of the Company which may be outstanding from time to time, to shorten the maturity of such Subordinated Debentures to a date not earlier than December 31, 2003, or extend the maturity of such Subordinated Debentures to a date not later than the earlier of (i) December 31, 2047 or (ii) the Interest Deduction Date, provided that it can extend the maturity only if certain conditions are met.
In the event of the involuntary or voluntary liquidation, dissolution, winding up or termination of the Trust, the holders of the Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive for each Preferred Security a liquidation amount of $25 plus accrued and unpaid distributions thereon (including interest thereon) to the date of payment, unless, in connection with such dissolution, the Subordinated Debentures are distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities.
If the Subordinated Debentures are distributed, Conseco will use its best efforts to list them on the New York Stock Exchange in place of the Preferred Securities.
BOOK ENTRY
The Preferred Securities will be represented by a global security 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 you will not receive a certificate for the Preferred Securities.
S-4

RISK FACTORS
You should carefully read the following risk factors and the other sections of this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus before purchasing any Preferred Securities.
RANKING OF SUBORDINATE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE TRUST GUARANTEE AND SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
Conseco's obligations under the Trust Guarantee are unsecured and will rank in priority of payment:
- junior to all of Conseco's general liabilities;
- equal with Conseco's most senior preferred and preference stock and equal with Conseco's obligations under other similar trust guarantees; and
- senior to Conseco's common stock.
Conseco's obligations under the Subordinated Debentures are unsecured and will rank junior in priority of payment to Conseco's Senior Indebtedness and effectively will rank junior to all existing and future liabilities and obligations of the Company's subsidiaries, including liabilities and obligations to policyholders. At June 30, 1998, the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness and liabilities and obligations of the Company's subsidiaries that would have effectively ranked senior to the Subordinated Debentures was approximately $37 billion. The Preferred Securities, the Subordinated Debentures and the Trust Guarantee do not limit the ability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness, including indebtedness that ranks senior to the Subordinated Debentures and the Trust Guarantee. For more information please refer to "Description of the Trust Guarantees -- Status of the Trust Guarantees," and "Description of the Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination."
PAYMENTS ON PREFERRED SECURITIES DEPENDENT ON COMPANY'S PAYMENTS ON SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES; RIGHTS UNDER THE TRUST GUARANTEE
The ability of the Trust to timely pay distributions on the Preferred Securities and the liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred Security is solely dependent upon Conseco's making the related payments on the Subordinated Debentures when due.
If Conseco defaults on its obligation to pay principal of or interest on the Subordinated Debentures, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to pay distributions or the $25 per Preferred Security liquidation amount. As a result, you will not be able to rely upon the Trust Guarantee for payment of these amounts. Instead, you or the Property Trustee may enforce the rights of the Trust under the Subordinated Debentures directly against Conseco.
For more information please refer to "Description of the Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination" and "Description of the Trust Guarantees -- Status of the Trust Guarantee."
ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS BY HOLDERS OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
If an event of default under the Subordinated Debentures occurs and is continuing, such event will also be an event of default under the Preferred Securities. In that case, the holders of the Preferred Securities would rely on the enforcement by the Property Trustee of its rights as holder of the Subordinated Debentures against Conseco. The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee to exercise its remedies, and if the Property Trustee does not enforce its rights any record holder may take action directly against Conseco to enforce the Property Trustee's rights. If an event of default under the Preferred Securities occurs that is attributable to Conseco's failure to pay interest or principal on the Subordinated Debentures, a record holder of the Preferred Securities may proceed directly against Conseco. The record holder of the Preferred Securities will be DTC, acting at the direction of the beneficial holders of the Preferred Securities. The holders of Preferred Securities will not be able to exercise directly any other remedies available to the holders of the Subordinated Debentures unless the Property Trustee fails to do so. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Declaration Events of Default" and "Description of the Subordinated Debentures -- Indenture Events of Default."
S-5

OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD; TRADING CHARACTERISTICS; TAX CONSEQUENCES
So long as no event of default under the Subordinated Debentures has occurred and is continuing, Conseco has the right, at one or more times, to defer interest payments on the Subordinated Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarters, but not beyond the maturity date of the Subordinated Debentures.
As a consequence, the Trust would defer distributions on the Preferred Securities during any deferral period. However, you would still accumulate distributions at the rate of 9% per annum, compounded quarterly, to the extent permitted by law. During a deferral period, the Preferred Securities may trade at a price that does not fully reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest on the Subordinated Debentures.
During a deferral period, you will be required to accrue interest income for United States federal income tax purposes in respect of your pro-rata share of the Subordinated Debentures held by the Trust. As a result, you must include the accrued interest in your gross income for United States federal income tax purposes prior to your receiving cash. You will also not receive the cash distribution related to any accrued and unpaid interest from the Trust if you sell the Preferred Securities before the end of any deferral period.
During a deferral period, accrued but unpaid distributions will increase your tax basis in the Preferred Securities. If you sell the Preferred Securities during a deferral period, your increased tax basis will decrease the amount of any capital gain or increase the amount of any capital loss that you may have otherwise realized on the sale. A capital loss, except in certain limited circumstances, cannot be applied to offset ordinary income.
Conseco has no current intention of exercising its right to defer interest payments on the Subordinated Debentures. However, if Conseco exercises its right in the future, the market price of the Preferred Securities is likely to be affected. If you sell the Preferred Securities during an interest deferral period, you may not receive the same return on investment as someone else who continues to hold the Preferred Securities.
See "United States Federal Income Taxation" for more information regarding the tax consequences of purchasing the Preferred Securities.
SPECIAL EVENT REDEMPTION
At any time a Special Event (as that term is defined under "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption") occurs and is continuing, the Company has the right, subject to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any of the Company's outstanding indebtedness, to redeem the Subordinated Debentures, in whole (but not in part). The redemption of the Subordinated Debentures will cause a mandatory redemption of the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities within 90 days of the event at a redemption price equal to the liquidation amount of $25 per security plus any unpaid distributions. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption" for more information.
DISTRIBUTION OF SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES; POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECT ON MARKET PRICE
The Trust may be terminated before its expiration on October 14, 2053, if certain events occur and at any time at Conseco's option. As a result, and subject to the terms of the Declaration, the trustees may distribute the Subordinated Debentures to the holders of Preferred Securities and Common Securities. Although Conseco has agreed to use its best efforts to list the Subordinated Debentures on the New York Stock Exchange if this occurs, there can be no assurance that the Subordinated Debentures will be approved for listing or that a trading market will exist for the Subordinated Debentures.
If the trustees distribute the Subordinated Debentures after the dissolution of the Trust, the Company may shorten the maturity of the Subordinated Debentures to a date not earlier than December 31, 2003, subject to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any outstanding indebtedness of the Company, or may extend the maturity under certain circumstances to any date up to the Interest Deduction Date but not later than December 31, 2047. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Change Scheduled Maturity Date."
Conseco cannot predict the market prices for the Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed. Accordingly, the Subordinated Debentures that you receive upon a distribution, or the Preferred Securities you hold pending such a distribution, may trade at a discount to the price that you paid to purchase the Preferred Securities.
S-6

Because you may receive Subordinated Debentures, you must also make an investment decision with regard to the Subordinated Debentures. You should carefully review all the information regarding the Subordinated Debentures contained in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus.
See "United States Federal Income Taxation -- Receipt of Subordinated Debentures or Cash Upon Liquidation of the Trust" where we discuss applicable United States federal income tax consequences.
PREPAYMENT CONSIDERATIONS; OPTION TO CHANGE SCHEDULED MATURITY DATE
At the option of the Company, subject to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any indebtedness of the Company which may be outstanding from time to time, the Subordinated Debentures may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time on or after December 31, 2003, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures -- Optional Redemption." You should assume that the Company will exercise its redemption option if the Company is able to refinance at a lower interest rate or it is otherwise in the interest of the Company to redeem the Subordinated Debentures. If Subordinated Debentures are redeemed, the Trust must redeem Trust Securities having an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Debentures so redeemed. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Mandatory Redemption."
The Company also has the option to extend the maturity date of the Subordinated Debentures for one or more periods, but in no event to a date later than the earlier of (i) December 31, 2047 or (ii) the Interest Deduction Date provided certain financial conditions are met. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Change Scheduled Maturity Date." You should assume that the Company will exercise its option to extend the term if the Company is unable to refinance at a lower interest rate or it is otherwise in the interest of the Company to defer the maturity of the Subordinated Debentures. The Preferred Securities will not be redeemed until the Subordinated Debentures have been repaid or redeemed. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Mandatory Redemption."
LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS
Holders of Preferred Securities have limited voting rights. In general, only Conseco can replace or remove any of the trustees. However, if any event of default under the Declaration is continuing, the holders of at least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities may replace the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee.
See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Voting Rights" for more information.
PROPOSED TAX LAW CHANGES
From time to time, the Clinton Administration has proposed certain tax law changes that would, among other things, generally deny interest deductions to a corporate issuer if the debt instrument has a term exceeding 15 years (earlier proposed tax law changes would have denied interest deductions if the debt instrument had a term exceeding 20 years) and if such debt instrument is not reflected as indebtedness on such issuer's consolidated balance sheet. Because the term of the Subordinated Debentures exceeds 15 years, if a proposal of this sort were to become effective, the Company could be precluded from deducting interest on the Subordinated Debentures. Enactment of any such proposal might in turn give rise to a Tax Event which, if the Company were to exercise its optional right to redeem the Subordinated Debentures, would thereby result in a mandatory redemption of the Preferred Securities, as described under "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Mandatory Redemption."
Prospective investors should also be aware that a petition was recently filed in the United States Tax Court as a result of a challenge by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") of a taxpayer's treatment as indebtedness of a security issued with characteristics similar to the Subordinated Debentures. If this matter is litigated to a conclusion and the IRS's position on this matter is sustained, such a judicial determination could constitute a Tax Event which could result in an early redemption of the Preferred Securities. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption."
S-7

CONSECO FINANCING TRUST VI
GENERAL
The Trust is a statutory business trust formed under Delaware law pursuant to (i) a declaration of trust, executed by the Company, as sponsor (the "Sponsor"), and the trustees of the Trust (the "Conseco Trustees"), and (ii) the filing of a certificate of trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 23, 1997. Such declaration will be amended and restated in its entirety (as so amended and restated, the "Declaration") substantially in a form to be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus form a part. The Declaration will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. Upon issuance of the Preferred Securities, the purchasers thereof will own all of the Preferred Securities. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Book-Entry Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company." The Company will directly or indirectly acquire Common Securities in an aggregate liquidation amount equal to at least 3% of the total capital of the Trust and will own all of the issued and outstanding Common Securities. The Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing the Trust Securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (ii) investing the gross proceeds of the Trust Securities in the Subordinated Debentures and (iii) engaging in only those other activities necessary, appropriate, convenient or incidental thereto. The Trust has a term of approximately 55 years, but may be terminated earlier as provided in the Declaration.
Pursuant to the Declaration, the number of Conseco Trustees initially is four. Two of the Conseco Trustees (the "Regular Trustees") will be persons who are employees or officers of or who are affiliated with the Company. The third trustee will be a financial institution unaffiliated with the Company that will serve as property trustee under the Declaration and as indenture trustee for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act (the "Property Trustee"). The fourth trustee will be a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or a legal entity which maintains its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and meets the requirements of applicable law (the "Delaware Trustee"). State Street Bank and Trust Company will act as the Property Trustee and First Union Bank of Delaware will act as the Delaware Trustee, in each case until removed or replaced by the holder of the Common Securities. For purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, State Street Bank and Trust Company will also act as indenture trustee under the Trust Guarantee (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee"). See "Description of the Trust Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus.
The Property Trustee will hold title to the Subordinated Debentures for the benefit of the Trust and the holders of the Trust Securities and, so long as the Subordinated Debentures are held by the Trust, the Property Trustee will have the power to exercise all rights, powers, and privileges of a holder of Subordinated Debentures under the Indenture. In addition, the Property Trustee will maintain exclusive control of a segregated non-interest bearing bank account (the "Property Account") to hold all payments made in respect of the Subordinated Debentures for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee will make payments of distributions and payments on liquidation, redemption and otherwise to the holders of the Trust Securities out of funds from the Property Account. The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee will hold the Trust Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities. The Company, as the direct or indirect holder of all the Common Securities, will have the right to appoint, remove or replace any Conseco Trustee (subject to the limitations set forth in the Declaration) and to increase or decrease the number of Conseco Trustees. The Company will pay all fees, expenses, debts and obligations (other than with respect to the Trust Securities) related to the Trust and the offering of the Trust Securities. See "Description of the Preferred Securities."
The rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities, including economic rights, rights to information and voting rights, are set forth in the Declaration, the Delaware Business Trust Act, as amended (the "Trust Act"), the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act. See "Description of the Preferred Securities."
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
The financial statements of the Trust will be reflected in the Company's consolidated financial statements, with the Preferred Securities shown as "Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts" under minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries. In a footnote to the Company's audited financial statements there will be included a statement that the Trust is wholly-owned by the Company and that the sole asset of the Trust is the Subordinated Debentures (indicating the principal amount, interest rate and maturity date thereof). See "Capitalization."
S-8

CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the unaudited consolidated capitalization of the Company at June 30, 1998, (i) as reported; (ii) as adjusted on a pro forma basis to reflect various financing transactions completed by the Company during the third quarter of 1998 (the "Financing Transactions"); and (iii) as further adjusted on a pro forma basis to reflect the offering of the Preferred Securities offered hereby and the application of proceeds thereof (the "Offering"). See "Use of Proceeds." This table should be read in conjunction with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 1998 and the supplemental consolidated financial statements included in Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated June 30, 1998, as amended, both of which are incorporated by reference herein. Such supplemental consolidated financial statements have been prepared to give retroactive effect to the merger (the "Green Tree Merger") of a subsidiary of the Company with and into Green Tree Financial Corporation ("Green Tree"), which was completed June 30, 1998 and is accounted for as a pooling of interests. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference" in the accompanying Prospectus.

                                                                             JUNE 30, 1998
                                                              -------------------------------------------
                                                                                               PRO FORMA
                                                                                                FURTHER
                                                                               PRO FORMA       ADJUSTED
                                                                             FOR FINANCING      FOR THE
                                                              AS REPORTED   TRANSACTIONS(A)   OFFERING(B)
                                                              -----------   ---------------   -----------
                                                                         (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Notes payable and commercial paper:
  Consumer and commercial finance:
    Master repurchase agreements............................   $ 1,355.8       $   636.4       $   636.4
    Credit facility collateralized by interest-only
      securities............................................       700.0            50.0            50.0
    Senior subordinated notes...............................       213.7           194.0           194.0
    Bank debt...............................................       225.0            25.0            25.0
    Medium term notes.......................................       238.7           238.7           238.7
    Other...................................................         1.8             1.8             1.8
  Corporate:
    Commercial paper........................................       814.3         1,022.2           829.0
    Bank credit facilities..................................       475.0         1,225.0         1,225.0
    Notes payable to Leucadia National Corporation..........       400.0           400.0           400.0
    Mandatory Par Put Remarketed Securities Notes...........       550.0           550.0           550.0
    Notes due 2003..........................................       250.0           250.0           250.0
    Senior notes due 2003...................................        63.5            63.5            63.5
    Senior notes due 2004...................................        25.0            25.0            25.0
    Senior notes due 2005...................................       250.0           250.0           250.0
    Subordinated notes due 2004.............................         8.1             8.1             8.1
    Convertible subordinated debentures due 2005............        22.1            22.1            22.1
    Convertible subordinated notes due 2003.................        86.0            86.0            86.0
    Other...................................................        16.8            16.8            16.8
                                                               ---------       ---------       ---------
    Total principal amount..................................     5,695.8         5,064.6         4,871.4
Unamortized net discount....................................       (14.9)          (11.5)          (11.5)
                                                               ---------       ---------       ---------
    Total notes payable and commercial paper................     5,680.9         5,053.1         4,859.9
Minority interest:
  Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred
    securities of subsidiary trusts.........................     1,388.8         1,872.2         2,065.4
  Common stock of subsidiary................................          .7              .7              .7
Shareholders' equity:
  7% PRIDES, convertible preferred stock, no par value;
    4,370,000 shares authorized; 1,895,250 shares
    outstanding.............................................       105.6           105.6           105.6
  Common stock and additional paid-in capital, no par value;
    1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 309,717,887 shares
    outstanding.............................................     2,661.2         2,661.2         2,661.2
  Accumulated other comprehensive income:
    Unrealized appreciation of fixed maturity securities....       198.0           198.0           198.0
    Unrealized appreciation of interest-only securities and
      other investments.....................................         5.5             5.5             5.5
    Minimum pension liability adjustment....................        (3.2)           (3.2)           (3.2)
Retained earnings...........................................     2,017.1         2,006.8         2,006.8
                                                               ---------       ---------       ---------
    Total shareholders' equity..............................     4,984.2         4,973.9         4,973.9
                                                               ---------       ---------       ---------
    Total capitalization....................................   $12,054.6       $11,899.9       $11,899.9
                                                               =========       =========       =========	

(a) During the third quarter of 1998, the Company completed the following financing transactions: (i) the issuance of $500.0 million of 8.70% Trust Originated Preferred Securities by Conseco Financing Trust V; (ii) the establishment of new credit facilities totalling $2.5 billion under which the Company had borrowed $1,225.0 million at September 30, 1998; and (iii) increased commercial paper borrowings of $207.9 million. The net proceeds from such transactions and other available cash were used to repay the Company's former bank credit facilities and to reduce

S-9

notes payable of the Company's consumer and commercial finance subsidiary including: (i) the master repurchase agreements; (ii) the credit facility collateralized by interest-only securities; (iii) bank debt; and (iv) the senior subordinated notes.
(b) Subsequent to the completion of the Offering, the assets of the Trust will consist solely of approximately $206.2 million in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures with an interest rate of 9% and a maturity date of December 31, 2028. The assets of Conseco Financing Trust I consist solely of $283.6 million aggregate principal amount of subordinated deferrable interest debentures of the Company with an interest rate of 9.16% and a maturity date of November 30, 2026; the assets of Conseco Financing Trust II consist solely of $335.1 million aggregate principal amount of subordinated deferrable interest debentures of the Company with an interest rate of 8.70% and a maturity date of November 15, 2026; the assets of Conseco Financing Trust III consist solely of $309.3 million aggregate principal amount of subordinated deferrable interest debentures of the Company with an interest rate of 8.796% and a maturity date of April 1, 2027; the assets of Conseco Financing Trust IV consist solely of $519.2 million aggregate principal amount of subordinated deferrable interest debentures of the Company with an interest rate of 6.75% and a maturity date of February 16, 2001; and the assets of Conseco Financing Trust V consist solely of $515.5 million aggregate principal amount of subordinated deferrable interest debentures of the Company with an interest rate of 8.70% and a maturity date of September 30, 2028; which assets, in each case, will not be available to meet the obligations of the Trust.
S-10

RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
AND EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES, PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
AND DISTRIBUTIONS ON COMPANY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY
REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARY TRUSTS
The following table sets forth the Company's ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends and earnings to fixed charges, preferred stock dividends and distributions on Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts for each of the five years ended December 31, 1997 and for the six months ended June 30, 1997 and 1998. Such ratios are based on the financial information contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 1998 and the supplemental consolidated financial statements included in Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated June 30, 1998, as amended, both of which are incorporated by reference herein. Such supplemental consolidated financial statements have been prepared to give retroactive effect to the Green Tree Merger, which was completed June 30, 1998 and is accounted for as a pooling of interests.

                                              SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                  JUNE 30,               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                              ----------------   ---------------------------------------
                                               1998     1997      1997    1996    1995    1994     1993
                                              ------   -------   ------   -----   -----   -----   ------
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges:
  As reported...............................  1.20X     2.57X     2.45X   1.93X   2.04X   3.24X    2.45X
  Excluding interest on annuities and
    financial product policyholder account
    balances and interest on debt related to
    finance receivables and other
    investments(a)(b).......................  2.43X    13.95X    13.00X   7.80X   7.36X   9.28X   13.09X
Ratio of earnings (excluding nonrecurring
  charge related to the Green Tree Merger)
  to fixed charges)(c):
    As reported.............................  2.36X
    Excluding interest on annuities and
      financial product policyholder account
      balances and interest on debt related
      to finance receivables and other
      investments(a)(b).....................  10.70X
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges,
 preferred stock dividends and distributions
 on Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable
 preferred securities of subsidiary trusts:
  As reported...............................  1.08X     2.26X     2.20X   1.80X   1.94X   2.84X    2.30X
  Excluding interest on annuities and
    financial product policyholder account
    balances and interest on debt related to
    finance receivables and other
    investments(a)(b).......................  1.36X     6.53X     6.72X   5.11X   5.61X   6.14X    8.44X
Ratio of earnings (excluding nonrecurring
  charge related to the Green Tree Merger)
  to fixed charges and preferred stock
  dividends and distributions on
  Company-obligated mandatory redeemable
  preferred securities of subsidiary
  trusts(c):
    As reported.............................  2.13X
    Excluding interest on annuities and
      financial product policyholder account
      balances and interest expense on debt
      related to finance receivables and
      other investments(a)(b)...............  6.00X	

(a) These ratios are included to assist the reader in analyzing the impact of interest on annuities and financial products (which is not generally required to be paid in cash in the period it is recognized) and interest on debt related to finance receivables and other investments. Such ratios are not intended to, and do not, represent the following ratios prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"): the ratio of earnings to fixed charges or the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, preferred dividends and distributions on Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts.
(b) Excludes interest credited to annuity and financial products of $408.5 million, $134.7 million, $585.4 million, $668.6 million and $697.1 million for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997, respectively, and $344.3 million and $370.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 1997 and 1998, respectively.

S-11

(c) These ratios are included to assist the reader in analyzing the impact of the $688 million nonrecurring charge (before taxes) recognized in the six month period ended June 30, 1998 related to the Green Tree Merger. Such nonrecurring charge was comprised of $148 million of merger-related costs (including investment banking, accounting, legal and regulatory fees) and non-cash charges of $540 million to writedown the carrying value of Green Tree's interest-only securities and servicing rights. Such ratios are not intended to, and do not, represent the following ratios prepared in accordance with GAAP: the ratio of earnings to fixed charges or the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, preferred dividends and distributions on Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The proceeds from the sale of the Preferred Securities will be invested by the Trust in Subordinated Debentures of the Company issued pursuant to the Indenture described herein. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Subordinated Debentures to repay commercial paper which the Company issued in August and October of 1998 to provide working capital. The weighted average interest rate of such commercial paper borrowings is 5.71% and such borrowings must be repaid on October 14, 1998.
S-12

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected consolidated financial data for Conseco are based on and derived from, and should be read in conjunction with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 1998 and the supplemental consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto of Conseco, which give retroactive effect to the Green Tree Merger. Conseco's supplemental consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 1997 and 1996, and supplemental consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 and notes thereto were audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, except for the consolidated financial statements of Green Tree for such periods (which financial statements are consolidated with those of Conseco and for which separate financial data are not presented herein) which were audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP. Conseco's supplemental consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the three years ended December 31, 1997 are included in Exhibit 99.1 of Conseco's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 30, 1998, as amended, which is incorporated by reference herein. The selected consolidated financial data for Conseco set forth for the six months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997 are unaudited; however, in the opinion of Conseco's management, the accompanying selected financial data contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items, necessary to present fairly the selected financial data for such periods. The results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 1998 may not be indicative of the results of operations to be expected for a full year. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference" in the accompanying Prospectus.
The comparison of selected consolidated financial data in the table below is significantly affected by: (i) the acquisitions consummated by Conseco Capital Partners, L.P. and Conseco Capital Partners II, L.P. ("Partnership II");
(ii) the sale of Western National Corporation ("Western National"); (iii) the transactions affecting Conseco's ownership interest in Bankers Life Holding Corporation ("BLH") and CCP Insurance, Inc. ("CCP"); (iv) the acquisition of Life Partners Group, Inc. ("LPG"); (v) the acquisition of American Travellers Corporation (the "ATC Merger"); (vi) the acquisition of Transport Holdings Inc. (the "THI Merger"); (vii) the acquisition of Capitol American Financial Corporation (the "CAF Merger"); (viii) the acquisition of Pioneer Financial Services, Inc. (the "PFS Merger"); (ix) the acquisition (the "Colonial Penn Purchase") of Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company and Providential Life Insurance Company and certain other assets (collectively referred to as "Colonial Penn"); and (x) the acquisition of Washington National Corporation (the "WNIC Merger"). Conseco did not have unilateral control to direct all of CCP's activities during 1993 and 1994 and, therefore, did not consolidate the financial statements of CCP with the financial statements of Conseco. As a result of the purchase by Conseco of all the shares of common stock of CCP it did not already own on August 31, 1995, the financial statements of CCP's subsidiaries are consolidated with the financial statements of Conseco, effective January 1, 1995. Conseco has included BLH in its financial statements since November 1, 1992. Through December 31, 1993, the financial statements of Western National were consolidated with the financial statements of Conseco. Following the completion of the initial public offering of Western National (and subsequent disposition of Conseco's remaining equity interest in Western National), the financial statements of Western National were no longer consolidated with the financial statements of Conseco. As of September 29, 1994, Conseco began to include in its financial statements the newly acquired Partnership II subsidiary, American Life Holdings, Inc. As of July 1, 1996, Conseco began to include in its financial statements its newly acquired subsidiary, LPG. Effective December 31, 1996, Conseco began to include in its financial statements its subsidiaries acquired in the ATC Merger and the THI Merger. As of January 1, 1997 Conseco began to include in its financial statements its subsidiaries acquired in the CAF Merger. As of April 1, 1997, Conseco began to include in its financial statements its subsidiaries acquired in the PFS Merger. Effective September 30, 1997, Conseco began to include in its financial statements its subsidiaries acquired in the Colonial Penn Purchase. Effective December 1, 1997, Conseco began to include in its financial statements its subsidiaries acquired in the WNIC Merger. Such business combinations are described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Conseco's supplemental consolidated financial statements included in Exhibit 99.1 of the Current
S-13

Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated June 30, 1998, as amended, which is incorporated herein by reference.

                                                  SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                      JUNE 30,                           YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                ---------------------   ---------------------------------------------------------
                                                  1998        1997        1997        1996        1995        1994        1993
                                                  ----        ----        ----        ----        ----        ----        ----
                                                                  (AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA
Insurance policy income.......................  $ 1,979.9   $ 1,555.1   $ 3,410.8   $ 1,654.2   $ 1,465.0   $ 1,285.6   $ 1,293.8
Net investment income:
  Assets held by insurance subsidiaries.......    1,087.5       854.1     1,825.3     1,302.5     1,142.6       385.7       896.2
  Finance receivables.........................      135.9        96.6       214.5       138.1       124.7        78.1        57.7
  Interest-only securities....................       69.6        56.2       130.3        77.2        51.3        33.3        54.8
Gain on sale of finance receivables...........      272.4       348.6       569.1       388.1       443.3       318.6       201.5
Net investment gains (losses).................      117.1        20.9       266.5        60.8       204.1       (30.5)      242.6
    Total revenues............................    3,824.1     3,042.0     6,656.4     3,789.8     3,561.2     2,357.6     3,002.3
Interest expense:
  Corporate...................................       75.3        51.3       109.4       108.1       119.4        59.3        58.0
  Finance and investment borrowings...........      140.0        74.5       202.9        92.1        79.5        49.3        61.8
    Total benefits and expenses...............    3,705.2     2,294.8     5,170.7     2,974.0     2,738.5     1,732.9     2,192.0
Income before income taxes, minority interest
  and extraordinary charge....................      118.9       747.2     1,485.7       815.8       822.7       624.7       810.3
Minority interest:
  Distributions on Company-obligated
    mandatorily redeemable preferred
    securities of subsidiary trusts...........       38.2        21.6        49.0         3.6          --          --          --
Extraordinary charge on extinguishment of
  debt, net of tax............................       30.3         5.5         6.9        26.5         2.1         4.0        11.9
Net income (loss)(a)..........................      (67.5)      440.8       866.4       452.2       470.9       330.5       413.1
Preferred stock dividends and charge related
  to induced conversions of convertible
  preferred stock.............................        4.2        17.7        21.9        27.4        18.4        18.6        20.6
Net income (loss) applicable to common
  stock.......................................      (71.7)      423.1       844.5       424.8       452.5       311.9       392.5
PER SHARE DATA(b)
Net income (loss), basic......................       (.23)       1.37        2.72        1.85        2.19        1.39        1.82
Net income (loss), diluted(a).................       (.23)       1.27        2.52        1.69        2.03        1.32        1.63
Dividends declared per common share...........        .25        .063        .313        .083        .046        .125        .075
Book value per common share outstanding.......      15.62       14.87       16.45       13.47        8.52        5.58        6.27
Shares outstanding at period end..............      312.4       311.7       310.0       293.4       205.2       212.7       224.1
Weighted average shares outstanding for
  diluted earnings or losses..................      309.6       338.0       338.7       267.7       232.3       250.5       251.8	

S-14

                                                  SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                      JUNE 30,                           YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                ---------------------   ---------------------------------------------------------
                                                  1998        1997        1997        1996        1995        1994        1993
                                                  ----        ----        ----        ----        ----        ----        ----
                                                                  (AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
BALANCE SHEET -- AT PERIOD END
    Total assets..............................  $42,474.9   $34,142.4   $40,686.0   $28,692.7   $19,510.1   $12,302.3   $15,266.3
Notes payable and commercial paper:
  Corporate...................................    2,952.1     1,773.7     2,354.9     1,094.9       871.4       191.8       413.0
  Consumer and commercial finance.............    2,728.8     1,474.9     1,866.3       762.5       383.6       309.3       515.0
  Notes payable of affiliates, not direct
    obligations of Conseco....................         --          --          --          --       584.7       611.1       290.3
Total liabilities.............................   36,101.2    28,417.3    34,087.5    23,778.2    17,075.1    10,509.2    13,350.8
Minority interest in consolidated
  subsidiaries:
  Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable
    preferred securities of subsidiary
    trusts....................................    1,388.8       900.0     1,383.9       600.0          --          --          --
  Preferred stock.............................         --        67.7          --        97.0       110.7       130.1          --
  Common stock................................         .7          .7          .7          .7       292.6       191.6       223.8
Shareholders' equity..........................    4,984.2     4,756.7     5,213.9     4,216.8     2,031.7     1,471.4     1,691.7
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA(c)
Premiums collected(d).........................    3,004.9     2,349.6     5,055.7     3,280.2     3,106.5     1,879.1     2,140.1
Operating earnings(e).........................      469.4       454.4       874.0       467.5       381.8       331.8       278.1
Operating earnings per diluted common
  share(b)(e).................................       1.50        1.35        2.58        1.75        1.64        1.33        1.10
Assets under management and managed
  receivables (at fair value)(f)..............   68,440.4    58,317.0    60,036.0    51,182.0    38,613.0    32,934.0    25,454.0
Shareholders' equity, excluding unrealized
  appreciation (depreciation) of fixed
  maturity securities at period end(g)........    4,786.2     4,731.1     5,036.7     4,177.0     1,919.1     1,609.1     1,604.3
Book value per common share, excluding
  unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of
  fixed maturity securities at period
  end(b)(g)...................................      14.99       14.79       15.88       13.33        7.97        6.23        5.88	

(a) The net loss of $67.5 million for the six month period ended June 30, 1998, or 23 cents per diluted share, included a nonrecurring charge (net of taxes) of $498.0 million, or $1.61 per share, related to the Green Tree Merger. Such nonrecurring charge was comprised of $148 million of merger-related costs, (including investment banking, accounting, legal and regulatory fees) and non-cash charges of $350 million to writedown the carrying value of Green Tree's interest-only securities and servicing rights.
(b) All share and per share amounts have been restated to reflect the two-for-one stock splits paid on April 1, 1996 and February 11, 1997.
(c) Amounts under this heading are included to assist the reader in analyzing Conseco's financial position and results of operations. Such amounts are not intended to, and do not, represent insurance policy income, net income, net income per share, invested assets, shareholders' equity or book value per share prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(d) Includes premiums received from universal life and products without mortality or morbidity risk. Such premiums are not reported as revenues under GAAP and were $1,148.0 million and $956.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997, respectively, and $2,099.4 million, $1,881.3 million, $1,757.5 million, $634.6 million and $891.9 million in the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively.
(e) Represents income before extraordinary charge, excluding net investment gains (losses) (less that portion of change in future policy benefits, amortization of cost of policies purchased and cost of policies produced and income taxes relating to such gains (losses)) and nonrecurring activities (net of income taxes).
(f) Represents: (i) the total market value of the investment portfolios managed by Conseco Capital Management, Inc. ("CCM") including assets of Conseco's subsidiaries of $28.1 billion and $23.2 billion at June 30, 1998 and 1997, respectively, and of $27.0 billion, $18.5 billion, $13.7 billion, $11.5 billion and $7.4 billion at December 31, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively, and assets of unaffiliated parties of $9.0 billion and $12.6 billion at June 30, 1998 and 1997, respectively, and of $5.1 billion, $12.6 billion, $11.0 billion, $11.6 billion and $10.9 billion at December 31, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively; and (ii) the total fixed and revolving credit receivables that Green Tree manages, including receivables on its balance sheet and receivables applicable to the holders of asset- backed securities sold by Green Tree.
(g) Excludes the effect of reporting fixed maturities at fair value and recording the unrealized gain or loss on such securities as a component of shareholders' equity, net of tax and other adjustments. Such adjustments are in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities" ("SFAS 115"), as described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Conseco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference.
S-15

THE COMPANY
BACKGROUND
Conseco is a financial services holding company. Conseco develops, markets and administers supplemental health insurance, annuity, life insurance, individual and group major medical insurance, other insurance products and consumer and commercial finance products and services. Since 1982, Conseco has made 20 acquisitions. Conseco's operating strategy is to grow the insurance business within its subsidiaries by focusing its resources on the development and expansion of profitable products and strong distribution channels. Conseco has supplemented such growth by acquiring companies that have profitable niche products and strong distribution systems. Once a company has been acquired, Conseco's operating strategy has been to consolidate and streamline management and administrative functions where appropriate, to realize superior investment returns through active asset management, to eliminate unprofitable products and distribution channels, and to expand and develop the profitable distribution channels and products.
Conseco was organized in 1979 as an Indiana corporation and commenced operations in 1982. Its executive offices are located at 11825 N. Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032, and its telephone number is (317) 817-6100.
Conseco continues to regularly investigate acquisition opportunities in the insurance industry, the financial services industry and other industries in which it operates. Conseco evaluates potential acquisitions based on a variety of factors, including the operating results and financial condition of the business to be acquired, its growth potential, management and personnel and the potential return on such acquisition in relation to other acquisition opportunities and the internal development of its existing business opportunities. No assurances can be given as to when, if at all, or upon what terms Conseco will make any such acquisition.
Prior to the Green Tree Merger, Conseco conducted and managed its business through five segments, reflecting Conseco's major lines of insurance business and target markets: (i) supplemental health insurance; (ii) annuities; (iii) life insurance; (iv) individual and group major medical insurance; and (v) other.
Supplemental health insurance. This segment includes Medicare supplement, long-term care and specified disease insurance. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for disabled persons and senior citizens (age 65 and older). Medicare supplement policies provide coverage for many of the medical expenses which the Medicare program does not cover, such as deductibles and coinsurance costs (in which the insured and Medicare share the costs of medical expenses) and specified losses which exceed the federal program's maximum benefits. Long-term care products provide coverage, within prescribed limits, for nursing home, home health care, or a combination of both nursing home and home health care expenses. Beginning in 1997, the supplemental health insurance segment includes specified disease products such as cancer and heart/ stroke insurance. These policies generally provide fixed or limited benefits. Payments under cancer insurance policies are generally made directly to, or at the direction of, the policyholder following diagnosis of, or treatment for, a covered type of cancer. Heart/stroke policies provide for payments directly to the policyholder for treatment of a covered heart disease, heart attack or stroke.
Annuities. This segment includes fixed annuities, equity-indexed annuities and variable annuities sold through both career agents and professional independent producers. A fixed annuity is a savings vehicle in which the policy holder, or annuitant, makes one or more premium payments to the insurance company; the insurer guarantees the principal and accrues a stated rate of interest (which may vary over time) or, in the case of an equity-indexed annuity, a stated rate plus potentially additional amounts determined by reference to an equity index. Variable annuities, sold on a single- or flexible-premium basis, differ from fixed annuities in that the original principal value may fluctuate, depending on the performance of assets allocated pursuant to various investment options chosen by the contract owner.
Life insurance. This segment includes traditional life, universal life and other life insurance products. This segment's products are currently sold through career agents, professional independent producers and direct response marketing. Interest-sensitive life products include universal life products that provide whole life insurance with adjustable rates of return related to current interest rates. Traditional life policies include whole life and term life products. Under whole life policies, the policyholder generally pays a level premium over the policyholders' expected lifetime. These policies, which continue to be marketed by Conseco on a limited basis, combine insurance protection with a savings component that increases in amount gradually over
S-16

the life of the policy. Term life products offer pure insurance protection for a specified period of time -- typically one, five, 10 or 20 years.
Individual and group major medical insurance. This segment includes individual and group major medical health insurance products. The size of this segment increased significantly as a result of the acquisition of Pioneer Financial Services, Inc. in May 1997. The profitability of this business depends largely on the overall persistency of the business in force, claim experience and expense management.
Other. This segment includes fee revenue generated by Conseco's nonlife subsidiaries, including the investment advisory fees earned by Conseco Capital Management, Inc. and commissions earned for insurance product marketing and distribution. This segment also includes other health insurance business not included in the segments listed above.
For additional information concerning Conseco, see Conseco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 and other documents filed with the Commission and listed or described under "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference" in the accompanying Prospectus.
GREEN TREE
On June 30, 1998, Conseco completed the Green Tree Merger. Green Tree is a diversified financial services company that provides financing for manufactured homes, home equity, home improvements, consumer products and equipment and provides consumer and commercial revolving credit. Green Tree's insurance agencies market physical damage and term mortgage life insurance and other credit protection relating to the customers' contracts it services. Green Tree is the largest servicer of manufactured housing contracts in the United States. Through its principal offices in Saint Paul, Minnesota and service centers throughout the United States, Green Tree serves all 50 states.
Green Tree pools and securitizes substantially all of the contracts it originates, retaining the servicing on the contracts. Such pools are structured into asset-backed securities which are sold in the public securities markets. In servicing the contracts, Green Tree collects payments from the borrower and remits principal and interest payments to the holder of the contract or investor certificate backed by the contracts. The availability and cost of capital in securitization transactions can materially affect the Company's results from its finance operations.
For additional information concerning Green Tree, see the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 30, 1998, as amended, and other documents filed with the Commission and listed or described under "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference" in the accompanying Prospectus.
S-17

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
The Preferred Securities will be issued pursuant to the terms of the Declaration. The Declaration will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The Property Trustee will act as the indenture trustee for purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The terms of the Preferred Securities will include those stated in the Declaration, including those required to be made part of the Declaration by the Trust Indenture Act. 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 Declaration, the Trust Act and the Trust Indenture Act.
GENERAL
The Declaration authorizes the Regular Trustees to issue, on behalf of the Trust, the Trust Securities, which represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. All of the Common Securities will be owned by the Company. The Common Securities will have equivalent terms to and will rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon on a pro rata basis, with the Preferred Securities, except as described under "-- Subordination of Common Securities." In addition, holders of the Common Securities have the exclusive right (subject to the terms of the Declaration) to appoint, replace or remove the Conseco Trustees and to increase or decrease the number of Conseco Trustees. The Declaration does not permit the issuance by the Trust of any securities other than the Trust Securities or the incurrence of any indebtedness by the Trust. Pursuant to the Declaration, the Property Trustee will hold the Subordinated Debentures purchased by the Trust for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities. The payment of distributions out of money held by the Trust, and payments upon redemption of the Preferred Securities or liquidation of the Trust, are guaranteed by the Company to the extent described under "Description of the Trust Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus. The Trust Guarantee, when taken together with the back-up undertakings, consisting of obligations of the Company as set forth in the Declaration (including the obligation to pay expenses of the Trust), the Indenture and any applicable supplemental indentures thereto, and the Subordinated Debentures issued to the Trust, provide a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the amounts due on the Preferred Securities. The Trust Guarantee will be held by State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities. The Trust Guarantee only covers payment of distributions when the Company has made the corresponding payment of interest or principal on the Subordinated Debentures held by the Trust. In the absence of such payment of interest or principal, the remedy of a holder of Preferred Securities is to direct the Property Trustee to enforce the Property Trustee's rights as the holder of the Subordinated Debentures except in the limited circumstances where the holder may take direct action against the Company. See "-- Voting Rights."
DISTRIBUTIONS
Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be fixed at a rate per annum of 9% of the stated liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred Security. Distributions in arrears for more than one quarter will (to the extent permitted by applicable law) accrue interest at the rate per annum of 9% thereof compounded quarterly. The term "distributions" as used herein includes any such interest payable unless otherwise stated. The amount of distributions payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and for any period shorter than a full quarter, on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in such 90-day quarter.
Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from October 14, 1998 and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing December 31, 1998 when, as and if available for payment by the Property Trustee, except as otherwise described below.
The Company has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Subordinated Debentures by extending the interest payment period from time to time on the Subordinated Debentures, which, if exercised, would defer quarterly distributions on the Preferred Securities (although to the extent
S-18

permitted by law, such distributions would continue to accrue with interest since interest would continue to accrue on the Subordinated Debentures) during any such extension period (each, an "Extension Period"). Such right to extend the interest payment period for the Subordinated Debentures is limited to a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters or extending beyond the Maturity Date of the Subordinated Debentures. In the event that the Company exercises this right, then during any Extension Period (a) the Company shall not declare or pay dividends on, make distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, (b) the Company shall not make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by the Company that rank pari passu with or junior to the Subordinated Debentures and (c) the Company shall not make guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing (other than pursuant to the Trust Guarantee); provided, however, that the restriction in clause (a) above does not apply to (i) any stock dividends paid by the Company where the dividend stock is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or (ii) purchases or acquisitions of shares of Company Common Stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any employee benefit plans. Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further extend the interest payment period; provided that such Extension Period, together with all such previous and further extensions thereof, may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters and may not extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures -- Interest" and "Description of the Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Extend Interest Payment Period." If distributions are deferred, the deferred distributions and accrued interest thereon shall be paid to holders of record of the Preferred Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date for distributions due at the end of such deferral period.
Distributions on the Preferred Securities must be paid on the dates payable to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account. The Trust's funds available for distribution to the holders of the Preferred Securities will be limited to payments received from the Company under the Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures." The payment of distributions out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Company to the extent set forth under "Description of Trust Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus. The Trust Guarantee, when taken together with the back-up undertakings, consisting of obligations of the Company as set forth in the Declaration (including the obligation to pay expenses of the Trust), the Indenture and any applicable supplemental indentures thereto, and the Subordinated Debentures issued to the Trust, provide a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the amounts due on the Preferred Securities.
Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be payable to the holders thereof as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the relevant record dates, which, as long as the Preferred Securities remain in global form, will be one Business Day (as defined below) prior to the relevant payment dates. Such distributions will be paid through the Property Trustee, who will hold amounts received in respect of the Subordinated Debentures in the Property Account for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities. Subject to any applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the Declaration, each such payment will be made as described under "-- Book-Entry Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company" below. In the event that the Preferred Securities do not continue to remain in global form, the relevant record dates for the Preferred Securities shall conform to the rules of any securities exchange on which the Preferred Securities are listed and, if none, shall be selected by the Regular Trustees, which dates shall be at least one Business Day but less than 60 Business Days prior to the relevant payment dates. Distributions payable on any Preferred Securities that are not punctually paid on any distribution payment date will cease to be payable to the person in whose name such Preferred Securities are registered on the relevant record date, and such defaulted distribution will instead be payable to the person in whose name such Preferred Securities are registered on the special record date or other specified date determined in accordance with the Indenture. In the event that any date on which distributions are to be made on the Preferred Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the distributions payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately
S-19

preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such record date. A "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.
SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES
Payment of distributions on, and the Redemption Price of, the Preferred Securities and Common Securities, as applicable, shall be made pro rata based on the Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities; provided, however, that if on any payment date for distributions or the Redemption Price an Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any distribution on, or applicable Redemption Price of, any of the Common Securities, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of the Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid distributions on all of the outstanding Preferred Securities for all distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption Price the full amount of such Redemption Price, shall have been made or provided for, and all funds available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all distributions on, or Redemption Price of, the Preferred Securities then due and payable.
In the case of any Declaration Event of Default (as defined herein), the Company as holder of the Common Securities will be deemed to have waived any right to act with respect to such Declaration Event of Default until the effect of such Declaration Event of Default shall have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until any such Declaration Event of Default has been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the holders of the Preferred Securities and not on behalf of the Company as holder of the Common Securities, and only the holders of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.
MANDATORY REDEMPTION
Upon the repayment of the Subordinated Debentures, whether at maturity or upon redemption, the proceeds from such repayment or redemption shall simultaneously be applied to redeem Trust Securities having an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures so repaid or redeemed, subject to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any indebtedness of the Company which may be outstanding from time to time, at the Redemption Price; provided that, holders of Trust Securities shall be given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice of such redemption. See "-- Special Event Redemption." The Subordinated Debentures will mature on December 31, 2028 unless the maturity date is changed at the option of the Company (provided in the case of an extension of the maturity date that certain financial conditions are met), and may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time on or after December 31, 2003 or at any time, in whole (but not in part) upon the occurrence of a Special Event. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures -- Optional Redemption." In the event that fewer than all of the outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed, the Trust Securities will be redeemed pro rata to each holder according to the aggregate liquidation amount of Trust Securities held by the relevant holder in relation to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Trust Securities outstanding. See "-- Book-Entry Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company" below for a description of DTC's (as hereinafter defined) procedures in the event of redemption.
SPECIAL EVENT REDEMPTION
"Tax Event" means that the Regular Trustees shall have received an opinion of an independent tax counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of (a) 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 (b) any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or such pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the Preferred Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days after the date thereof, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to interest accrued or received on the Subordinated Debentures, (ii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days after the date thereof, subject to
S-20

more than a de minimis amount of taxes, duties or other governmental charges, or
(iii) interest payable to the Trust on the Subordinated Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date thereof will not be, deductible, in whole or in part, by the Company for United States federal income tax purposes.
"Investment Company Event" means that the Regular Trustees shall have received an opinion of an independent counsel experienced in practice under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority (a "Change in 1940 Act Law"), there is more than insubstantial risk that the Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" which is required to be registered under the 1940 Act, which Change in 1940 Act Law becomes effective on or after the date of original issuance of the Preferred Securities.
If, at any time, a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event (each, as defined above, a "Special Event") shall occur and be continuing, the Company shall have the right, subject to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any indebtedness of the Company which might be outstanding from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, to redeem the Subordinated Debentures, in whole (but not in part), for cash within 90 days following the occurrence of such Special Event, and, following such redemption, Trust Securities with an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures so redeemed shall be redeemed by the Trust at the Redemption Price on a pro rata basis.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
At any time, subject to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any indebtedness of the Company which may be outstanding from time to time, the Company will have the right to terminate the Trust and, after satisfaction of the liabilities of creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, cause the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust. Under current United States federal income tax law and interpretations and assuming, as expected, the Trust is treated as a grantor trust, a distribution of the Subordinated Debentures should not be a taxable event to holders of the Preferred Securities. Should there be a change in such law, a change in the legal interpretation thereof, a Special Event or other circumstances, however, the distribution of the Subordinated Debentures could be a taxable event to the holders of the Preferred Securities. In addition, a dissolution of the Trust in which holders of the Preferred Securities receive cash would be a taxable event to such holders. See "United States Federal Income Taxation -- US Holders -- Receipt of Subordinated Debentures or Cash Upon Liquidation of the Trust."
If the Subordinated Debentures are distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities, the Company will use its best efforts to cause the Subordinated Debentures to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or on such other exchange as the Preferred Securities are then listed.
After the date for any distribution of Subordinated Debentures upon dissolution of the Trust, (i) the Preferred Securities will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii) the Depository or its nominee, as the record holder of the Preferred Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or certificates representing the Subordinated Debentures to be delivered upon such distribution, and (iii) any certificates representing Capital Securities not held by the Depository or its nominee will be deemed to represent Subordinated Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical to the distribution rate of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid distributions on such Preferred Securities until such certificates are presented to the Company or its agent for transfer or reissuance.
If the Company elects to liquidate the Trust and thereby causes the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the Company shall have the right, subject to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any indebtedness of the Company which may be outstanding from time to time, to shorten the maturity of such Subordinated Debentures to a date not earlier than December 31, 2003 or extend the maturity of such Subordinated Debentures to a date not later than the earlier of (i) December 31, 2047 or (ii) the Interest Deduction Date, provided that it can extend the maturity
S-21

only if certain conditions are met. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Change Scheduled Maturity Date."
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for either the Preferred Securities or the Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed in exchange for the Preferred Securities if a dissolution and liquidation of the Trust were to occur. Accordingly, the Preferred Securities that an investor may purchase, whether pursuant to the offer made hereby or in the secondary market, or the Subordinated Debentures that an investor may receive if a dissolution and liquidation of the Trust were to occur, may trade at a discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase the Preferred Securities offered hereby.
REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
The Trust may not redeem fewer than all of the outstanding Preferred Securities unless all accrued and unpaid distributions have been paid on all Preferred Securities for all quarterly distribution periods terminating on or prior to the date of redemption.
If the Trust gives a notice of redemption in respect of Preferred Securities (which notice will be irrevocable), then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the redemption date, provided that the Company has paid to the Property Trustee a sufficient amount of cash in connection with the related redemption or maturity of the Subordinated Debentures, the Trust will irrevocably deposit with the securities depository funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give the securities depository irrevocable instructions to pay the Redemption Price to the holders of the Preferred Securities. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such deposit, distributions will cease to accrue and all rights of holders of such Preferred Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of the holders of such Preferred Securities to receive the Redemption Price, but without interest on such Redemption Price. In the event that any date fixed for redemption of Preferred Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (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 payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. In the event that the Company fails to repay the Subordinated Debentures on maturity or payment of the Redemption Price in respect of Preferred Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the Company pursuant to the Trust Guarantee, distributions on such Preferred Securities will continue to accrue at the then applicable rate from the original redemption date to the actual date of payment, in which case the actual payment date will be considered the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price.
In the event that fewer than all of the outstanding Preferred Securities are to be redeemed, the Preferred Securities will be redeemed as described below under "-- Book-Entry Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company."
If a partial redemption of the Preferred Securities would result in the delisting of the Preferred Securities by a national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, the Company pursuant to the Indenture will only redeem the Subordinated Debentures in whole and, as a result, the Trust may only redeem the Preferred Securities in whole.
Subject to the foregoing and to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any indebtedness of the Company which may be outstanding from time to time and applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws), the Company or its subsidiaries may at any time, and from time to time, purchase outstanding Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON DISSOLUTION
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust (each a "Liquidation"), the then holders of the Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive on a pro rata basis solely out of the assets of the Trust, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, distributions in an amount equal to the aggregate of the stated liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred Security plus accrued and unpaid distributions thereon to the date of payment (the "Liquidation Distribution"), unless, in connection with such Liquidation, Subordinated Debentures in an
S-22

aggregate stated principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical to the distribution rate of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid distributions on, the Preferred Securities have been distributed on a pro rata basis to the holders of the Preferred Securities.
If, upon any such Liquidation, the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the Trust on the Preferred Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis. The holders of the Common Securities will be entitled to receive distributions upon any such dissolution pro rata with the holders of the Preferred Securities, except that if a Declaration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securities shall have a preference over the Common Securities with regard to such distributions.
TERMINATION
Pursuant to the Declaration, the Trust shall terminate upon the earliest of
(i) October 14, 2053, (ii) the bankruptcy of the Company, (iii) the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent with respect to the Company, the filing of a certificate of cancellation with respect to the Trust, or the revocation of the charter of the Company and the expiration of 90 days after the date of revocation without a reinstatement thereof, (iv) the distribution of the Subordinated Debentures from the Trust, (v) the entry of a decree of a judicial dissolution of the Company or the Trust, or (vi) the redemption of all the Trust Securities.
DECLARATION EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An Event of Default under the Indenture (an "Indenture Event of Default") constitutes an event of default under the Declaration with respect to the Trust Securities (a "Declaration Event of Default"), provided that pursuant to the Declaration, the holder of the Common Securities will be deemed to have waived any Declaration Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities until all Declaration Events of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until such Declaration Event of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities has been so cured, waived, or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee will be deemed to be acting solely on behalf of the holders of the Preferred Securities and only the holders of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee with respect to certain matters under the Declaration, and therefore the Indenture.
Upon the occurrence of a Declaration Event of Default, the Indenture Trustee (as defined herein) or the Property Trustee as the holder of the Subordinated Debentures will have the right under the Indenture to declare the principal of and interest on the Subordinated Debentures to be immediately due and payable. The Company and the Trust are each required to file annually with the Property Trustee an officer's certificate as to its compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Declaration.
VOTING RIGHTS
Except as described herein, under the Trust Act, the Trust Indenture Act and under "Description of the Trust Guarantees -- Modification of the Trust Guarantees; Assignment" in the accompanying Prospectus, and as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the holders of the Preferred Securities will have no voting rights.
Subject to the requirement of the Property Trustee obtaining a tax opinion in certain circumstances set forth in the last sentence of this paragraph, the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under the Declaration, including the right to direct the Property Trustee, as holder of the Subordinated Debentures, to (i) exercise the remedies available under the Indenture with respect to the Subordinated Debentures, (ii) waive any past Indenture Event of Default that is waivable under the Indenture, or (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Subordinated Debentures shall be due and payable, or consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Subordinated Debentures, where such consent should be required; provided, however, that, where a consent or action under the Indenture would require the consent or act of the holders of greater than a majority in principal amount of Subordinated Debentures affected thereby (a "Super-Majority"), the Property Trustee may only give such consent or take such action at the written direction of the holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities which the relevant Super-Majority
S-23

represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures outstanding. The Property Trustee shall notify all holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice of default received from the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Subordinated Debentures. Except with respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting a proceeding for a remedy, the Property Trustee shall not take any of the actions described in clauses (i), (ii) or
(iii) above unless the Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that, as a result of such action, the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
In the event the consent of the Property Trustee, as the holder of the Subordinated Debentures, is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee shall request the direction of the holders of the Trust Securities with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with respect to such amendment, modification or termination as directed by a majority in liquidation amount of the Trust Securities voting together as a single class; provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of a Super-Majority, the Property Trustee may only give such consent at the direction of the holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Trust Securities which the relevant Super-Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures outstanding. The Property Trustee shall not take any such action in accordance with the directions of the holders of the Trust Securities unless the Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes on account of such action.
A waiver of an Indenture Event of Default will constitute a waiver of the corresponding Declaration Event of Default.
Any required approval or direction of holders of Preferred Securities may be given at a separate meeting of holders of Preferred Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the holders of Trust Securities or pursuant to written consent. The Regular Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of such holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each holder of record of Preferred Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth the following information: (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken; (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought; and
(iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents. No vote or consent of the holders of Preferred Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Preferred Securities or distribute Subordinated Debentures in accordance with the Declaration.
Notwithstanding that holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Preferred Securities that are owned at such time by the Company or any entity directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, the Company, shall not be entitled to vote or consent and shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if such Preferred Securities were not outstanding.
The procedures by which holders of Preferred Securities may exercise their voting rights are described below. See "--Book-Entry Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company" below.
Holders of the Preferred Securities will have no rights to appoint or remove the Conseco Trustees, who may be appointed, removed or replaced solely by the Company as the indirect or direct holder of all of the Common Securities.
MODIFICATION OF THE DECLARATION
The Declaration may be modified and amended if approved by a majority of the Regular Trustees (and in certain circumstances the Property Trustee and/or the Delaware Trustee), provided that, if any proposed amendment provides for, or the Regular Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Trust Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Declaration or otherwise or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust other than pursuant to the terms of the Declaration, then the holders of the Trust Securities voting together as a single class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall
S-24

not be effective except with the approval of at least a majority in liquidation amount of the Trust Securities affected thereby; provided that, if any amendment or proposal referred to in clause (i) above would adversely affect only the Preferred Securities or the Common Securities, then only the affected class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of a majority in liquidation amount of such class of Trust Securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification may be made to the Declaration if such amendment or modification would (i) cause the Trust to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, (ii) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the Property Trustee or (iii) cause the Trust to be deemed an "investment company" which is required to be registered under the 1940 Act.
MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS OR AMALGAMATIONS
The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety, to any corporation or other body, except as described below. The Trust may, with the consent of a majority of the Regular Trustees and without the consent of the holders of the Trust Securities, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by a trust organized as such under the laws of any State; provided that, (i) such successor entity either (A) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust under the Trust Securities or (B) substitutes for the Trust 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 with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Company expressly acknowledges a trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the holder of the Subordinated Debentures, (iii) the Preferred Securities or any Successor Securities with respect to the Preferred Securities are listed, or any such Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or with another organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed or quoted, (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not cause the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities with respect to the Preferred Securities) to be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation 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 (other than with respect to any dilution of the holders' interest in the new entity), (vi) such successor entity has a purpose identical to that of the Trust, (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, the Company has received an opinion of an independent counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters to the effect that, (A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation 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 (other than with respect to any dilution of the holders' interest in the new entity), (B) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act and (C) the Trust will continue to be classified as a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes, and (viii) the Company guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Trust 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 or the Successor Entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes and each holder of the Trust Securities not to be treated as owning an undivided interest in the Subordinated Debentures.
BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE -- THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY
The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") will act as securities depository ("depository") for the Preferred Securities. The Preferred Securities initially 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
S-25

Securities certificates, representing the total aggregate number of Preferred Securities, will be issued and will be delivered to DTC.
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 the global Preferred Securities as represented by a global certificate.
DTC has advised the Company and the Trust that 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, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). 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, Inc., 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 transactions through or maintain a direct or indirect custodial relationship with a Direct Participant ("Indirect Participants"). The rules applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the Commission.
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 each Preferred Security ("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 the Preferred Securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the Preferred Securities is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all the Preferred Securities deposited by Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC's nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of Preferred Securities 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 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 that may be in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices shall be sent to Cede & Co. If less than all of the Preferred Securities are being redeemed, DTC will reduce pro rata the amount of the interest of each Direct Participant in such Preferred Securities to be redeemed 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). The Company and the Trust believe that the arrangements among DTC, Direct and Indirect
S-26

Participants, and Beneficial Owners will enable the Beneficial Owners to exercise rights equivalent in substance to the rights that can be directly exercised by a holder of a beneficial interest in the Trust.
Distribution payments on 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 in bearer form or registered in "street name," and such payments will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC, the Trust or the Company, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements that may be in effect from time to time. Payment of distributions 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 certificate will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Preferred Securities. Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights under the Preferred Securities.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as depository 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 depository is not obtained, Preferred Securities certificates are required to be printed and delivered. Additionally, the Regular Trustees (with the consent of the Company) may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or any successor depository) with respect to the Preferred Securities. In that event, certificates for the Preferred Securities will be printed and delivered.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system has been obtained from sources that the Company and the Trust believe to be reliable, but neither the Company nor the Trust takes responsibility for the accuracy thereof.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
The Property Trustee, prior to the occurrence of a default with respect to the Trust Securities, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Declaration, in the terms of the Trust Securities or in the Trust Indenture Act and, after default, shall 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 Declaration at the request of any holder of Preferred Securities, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred thereby. The holders of Preferred Securities will not be required to offer such indemnity in the event such holders, by exercising their voting rights, direct the Property Trustee to take any action following a Declaration Event of Default. The Property Trustee also serves as Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee.
PAYING AGENT
In the event that the Preferred Securities do not remain in book-entry form, the following provisions would apply:
The Property Trustee will act as paying agent, and may designate an additional or substitute paying agent at any time.
Registration of transfers of Preferred Securities will be effected without charge by or on behalf of the Trust, but upon payment (with the giving of such indemnity as the Trust or the Company may require) in respect of any tax or other government charges that may be imposed in relation to it.
The Trust will not be required to register or cause to be registered the transfer of Preferred Securities after such Preferred Securities have been called for redemption.
S-27

GOVERNING LAW
The Declaration and the Preferred Securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Regular Trustees are authorized and directed to operate the Trust in such a way so that the Trust will not be required to register as an "investment company" under the 1940 Act or be characterized as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. The Company is authorized and directed to conduct its affairs so that the Subordinated Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Company for United States federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Company and the Regular Trustees are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the certificate of trust of the Trust or the articles of incorporation of the Company, that each of the Company and the Regular Trustees determines in their discretion to be necessary or desirable to achieve such end, as long as such action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Preferred Securities or vary the terms thereof.
Holders of the Preferred Securities have no preemptive rights.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
Set forth below is a description of the specific terms of the Subordinated Debentures in which the Trust will invest the proceeds from the issuance and sale of the Trust Securities. This description supplements the description of the general terms and provisions of the Subordinated Debentures set forth in the accompanying Prospectus under the caption "Description of Debt Securities." 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 Indenture, dated as of November 14, 1996, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated November 14, 1996, the Second Supplemental Indenture dated November 22, 1996, the Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 26, 1997 and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated August 24, 1998 (the Indenture, as so supplemented, is hereinafter referred to as the "Base Indenture"), between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as successor to Fleet National Bank, as Trustee, as supplemented by a Fifth Supplemental Indenture, to be dated as of October 14, 1998 (the Base Indenture, as so supplemented, is hereinafter referred to as the "Indenture"), the forms of which are filed either as Exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus form a part, or as Exhibits to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, of which this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus form a part, and the Trust Indenture Act. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in the Indenture.
At any time, the Company will have the right to liquidate the Trust and cause Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust, subject to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any indebtedness of the Company which may be outstanding from time to time. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Distribution of the Subordinated Debentures."
If the Subordinated Debentures are distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities, the Company will use its best efforts to have the Subordinated Debentures listed on the New York Stock Exchange or on such other exchange on which the Preferred Securities are then listed.
GENERAL
The Subordinated Debentures will be issued as unsecured subordinated debt securities under the Indenture. The Subordinated Debentures will be limited in aggregate principal amount to approximately $206.2 million, such amount being the sum of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities and the capital contributed by the Company in exchange for the Common Securities (the "Company Payment"). The Subordinated Debentures are not subject to a sinking fund provision. The entire principal of the Subordinated Debentures will mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon including Compounded Interest (as hereinafter defined), if any, on December 31, 2028, subject to the election of the Company to shorten or extend the scheduled maturity date of the
S-28

Subordinated Debentures, which election in the case of an extension of the scheduled maturity date is subject to the Company's satisfying certain financial conditions and in the case of shortening the maturity date, the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any indebtedness of the Company which may be outstanding from time to time. See "-- Option to Change Scheduled Maturity Date."
If Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of Preferred Securities in liquidation of such holders' interests in the Trust, it is presently anticipated that such Subordinated Debentures will initially be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities (as defined below). As described herein, under certain limited circumstances, Subordinated Debentures may be issued in definitive certificated form in exchange for a Global Security. See "-- Book-Entry and Settlement" below. In the event that Subordinated Debentures are issued in definitive certificated form, such Subordinated Debentures will be in denominations of $25 and integral multiples thereof and may be transferred or exchanged at the offices described below. Payments on Subordinated Debentures issued as a Global Security will be made to DTC or its nominee, a successor depository or its nominee. In the event Subordinated Debentures are issued in definitive certificated form, principal and interest will be payable, the transfer of the Subordinated Debentures will be registrable and Subordinated Debentures will be exchangeable for Subordinated Debentures of other denominations of a like aggregate principal amount at the corporate trust offices of the Indenture Trustee in Hartford, Connecticut and New York, New York; provided that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the address of the persons entitled thereto.
The Indenture does not contain provisions that afford the holders of the Subordinated Debentures protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving the Company or other similar transaction that may adversely affect such holders.
SUBORDINATION
The Indenture provides that the Subordinated Debentures are subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company whether now existing or hereafter incurred. In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated because of a default, then in either case, no payment will be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including redemption payments) of or interest on the Subordinated Debentures. Upon any distribution of assets of the Company to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all principal, premium, if any, and interest due or to become due on all Senior Indebtedness of the Company must be paid in full before the holders of Subordinated Debentures are entitled to receive or retain any payment. In the event that the Subordinated Debentures are declared due and payable before the Maturity Date, then all amounts due or to become due on all Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full before holders of the Subordinated Debentures are entitled to receive or retain any payment. Upon satisfaction of all claims of all Senior Indebtedness then outstanding, the rights of the holders of the Subordinated Debentures will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company to receive payments or distributions applicable to Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the Subordinated Debentures are paid in full.
The term "Senior Indebtedness" means all indebtedness of the Company, whether now existing or hereafter created, but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, "Senior Indebtedness" shall include the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on: (i) all indebtedness of the Company outstanding, created, incurred or assumed, which is for money borrowed, or evidenced by a note or similar instrument given in connection with the acquisition of any business, properties or assets, including securities; (ii) any indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the preceding clause (i) for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as guarantor or otherwise; and (iii) amendments, renewals, extensions and refundings of any such indebtedness, unless in any instrument or instruments evidencing or securing such indebtedness or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, or in any such amendment, renewal, extension or refunding, it is expressly provided that such indebtedness is not superior in right of payment to Subordinated Debt Securities. "Senior Indebtedness" does not include any indebtedness of the Company to any of its Subsidiaries. The Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior
S-29

Indebtedness and entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the Senior Indebtedness or extension or renewal of the Senior Indebtedness.
The Indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness that may be issued by the Company. At June 30, 1998 the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness and liabilities and obligations of the Company's subsidiaries that would have effectively ranked senior to the Subordinated Debentures was approximately $37 billion.
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
The Company shall have the right to redeem the Subordinated Debentures, subject to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any indebtedness of the Company which may be outstanding from time to time, (i) at any time, in whole or in part, from time to time, on or after December 31, 2003 or (ii) at any time in whole (but not in part) upon the occurrence of a Special Event as described under "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption," 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 thereon to the redemption date. If a partial redemption of the Preferred Securities resulting from a partial redemption of the Subordinated Debentures would result in the delisting of the Preferred Securities, the Company may only redeem the Subordinated Debentures in whole.
INTEREST
Each Subordinated Debenture shall bear interest at the rate of 9% per annum from the original date of issuance, or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for, payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year (each an "Interest Payment Date"), commencing December 31, 1998, to the person in whose name such Subordinated Debenture is registered, subject to certain exceptions, at the close of business on the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date. In the event the Subordinated Debentures shall not continue to remain in book-entry form, the Company shall have the right to select record dates, which shall be more than one Business Day but less than 60 Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date. Any installment of interest not punctually paid will cease to be payable to the holders of the Subordinated Debentures on the regular record date and may be paid to the person in whose name the Subordinated Debentures are registered at the close of business on a special record date to be fixed by the Indenture Trustee for the payment of such defaulted interest, notice of which shall be given to the holders of the Subordinated Debentures not less than 10 days prior to such special record date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange, interdealer quotation system or other organization on which the Subordinated Debentures may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, system or organization.
The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The amount of interest payable for any period shorter than a full quarterly period for which interest is computed, will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed per 90-day quarter. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the Subordinated Debentures is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding 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 is in the next succeeding calendar year, then such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date.
OPTION TO CHANGE SCHEDULED MATURITY DATE
The "Scheduled Maturity Date" of the Subordinated Debentures is December 31, 2028. The Company, however, may extend such maturity date (December 31, 2028 or the maturity date then in effect, as the case may be, is referred to herein as the "Maturity Date") for one or more periods but in no event later than the earlier of (i) December 31, 2047 or (ii) the Interest Deduction Date. The "Interest Deduction Date" shall mean the date which is six months earlier than the ending date of the maximum term (beginning on the date of issue of the Subordinated Debentures and including any extensions thereof), as determined under any
S-30

federal statute applicable by its terms to the Subordinated Debentures which is enacted at any time after the issuance of the Subordinated Debentures (including, but not limited to, at any time after an extension of the Maturity Date), of a debt instrument for which interest is deductible for federal income tax purposes. In no event shall the extended Maturity Date be later than the Interest Deduction Date even if the Maturity Date has previously been extended to a date beyond the Interest Deduction Date. The Company must exercise its right to extend the term at least 90 days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect and must satisfy the following conditions on the date the Company exercises such right and on the Maturity Date then in effect prior to such proposed extension; (a) the Company is not in bankruptcy or otherwise insolvent,
(b) the Company is not in default on any Subordinated Debenture issued to the Trust or to any trustee of the Trust in connection with an issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust, (c) the Company has made timely payments on the Subordinated Debentures for the immediately preceding six quarters without deferrals, (d) the Trust is not in arrears on payments of distributions on the Trust Securities, (e) the Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities are rated investment grade by any one of Standard & Poor's Corporation, Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Fitch Investor Services, Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Company or any other nationally recognized statistical rating organization, and
(f) the final maturity of such Subordinated Debentures is not later than December 31, 2047. Pursuant to the Declaration, the Regular Trustees are required to give notice of the Company's election to change the Maturity Date to the holders of the Preferred Securities.
In addition, if the Company exercises its right to liquidate the Trust and distribute the Subordinated Debentures as discussed above under "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Distribution of the Subordinated Debentures," effective upon such exercise the Maturity Date of the Subordinated Debentures may be changed to (i) any date elected by the Company that is no earlier than December 31, 2003, subject to the receipt of any consent required by the terms of any indebtedness of the Company which may be outstanding from time to time, and (ii) any date elected by the Company which is not later than the earlier of
(a) December 31, 2047 or (b) the Interest Deduction Date; provided that on the date the Company exercises such right and on the Maturity Date in effect prior to such proposed extension the conditions specified in the previous paragraph are satisfied.
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
The Company has the right at any time, and from time to time, during the term of the Subordinated Debentures to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters, at the end of which Extension Period, the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid, together with interest thereon compounded quarterly at the rate specified for the Subordinated Debentures to the extent permitted by applicable law ("Compounded Interest"); provided that no Extension Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date; and provided further that, during any such Extension Period, (a) the Company shall not declare or pay any dividends on, make any distribution with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to any of its capital stock, (b) the Company shall not make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by the Company that rank pari passu with or junior to the Subordinated Debentures and (c) the Company shall not make guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing (other than pursuant to the Trust Guarantee); provided, however, that, the restriction in clause (a) above does not apply to (i) any stock dividends paid by the Company where the dividend stock is the same as that on which the dividend is paid or
(ii) purchases or acquisitions of shares of Company Common Stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any employee benefit plans. Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period; provided, however, that such Extension Period, including all such previous and further extensions, may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the terms set forth in this section. No interest during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, shall be due and payable. The Company has no present intention of exercising its right to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Subordinated Debentures. If the Property Trustee shall be the sole holder of the Subordinated Debentures, the Company shall give the Regular Trustees and the Property Trustee notice of its selection of such Extension Period one Business Day prior to the earlier of
S-31

(i) the date distributions on the Preferred Securities are payable or (ii) the date the Regular Trustees are required to give notice to holders of the Preferred Securities (or to any national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are listed) of the record date or the date such distribution is payable. The Regular Trustees shall give notice of the Company's selection of such Extension Period to the holders of the Preferred Securities. If the Property Trustee shall not be the sole holder of the Subordinated Debentures, the Company shall give the holders of the Subordinated Debentures notice of its selection of such Extension Period ten Business Days prior to the earlier of (i) the applicable Interest Payment Date or (ii) the date upon which the Company is required to give notice to holders of the Subordinated Debentures (or to any national securities exchange or other organization on which the Subordinated Debentures are listed) of the record or payment date of such related interest payment.
ADDITIONAL INTEREST
If the Trust or the Property Trustee is required to pay any taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges (other than withholding taxes), the Company will pay as additional interest on the Subordinated Debentures held by the Property Trustee, such additional amounts as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by the Trust and the Property Trustee after paying such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the amounts the Trust and the Property Trustee would have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges been imposed.
INDENTURE EVENTS OF DEFAULT
If any Indenture Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Property Trustee, as the holder of the Subordinated Debentures, will have the right to declare the principal of and the interest on the Subordinated Debentures (including any Compounded Interest and any other amounts payable under the Indenture) to be forthwith due and payable and to enforce its other rights as a creditor with respect to the Subordinated Debentures subject to the subordination provisions in the Indenture. See "Description of Debt Securities -- Events of Default, Notice and Certain Rights on Default" in the accompanying Prospectus for a description of the Indenture Events of Default. An Indenture Event of Default also constitutes a Declaration Event of Default. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights with respect to the Subordinated Debentures held by the Trust, any record holder of Preferred Securities may institute legal proceedings directly against the Company to enforce the Property Trustee's rights under such Subordinated Debentures without first instituting any legal proceedings against such Property Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default under the Declaration has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest or principal on the Subordinated Debentures issued to the Trust on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable, then a record holder of Preferred Securities may institute a proceeding directly against the Company for enforcement of payment to the record holder of the Preferred Securities for payment of the principal of or interest on the Subordinated Debentures on or after the respective due dates specified in the Subordinated Debentures (taking into account any Extension Periods), and the amount of the payment will be based on the holder's pro rata share of the amount due and owing on all of the Preferred Securities. The record holder in the case of the issuance of one or more global Preferred Securities certificates will be DTC acting at the direction of the beneficial owners of the Preferred Securities. The holders of Preferred Securities in certain circumstances have the right to direct the Property Trustee to exercise its rights, with respect to other than principal and interest payments on the Subordinated Debentures, as the holder of the Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Declaration Events of Default" and "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Voting Rights."
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
In addition to the covenants contained in the Base Indenture, but subject to the exceptions described below in this paragraph, the Company has also covenanted, with respect to the Subordinated Debentures, that for so long as the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities remain outstanding the Company will (i) maintain 100% direct or indirect ownership of the Common Securities, provided, however, that any permitted successor of the Company under the Indenture may succeed to the Company's ownership of the Common Securities, (ii) not voluntarily dissolve, wind-up or terminate the Trust, except in connection with the distribution of Subordinated Debentures or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as
S-32

permitted by the Declaration, (iii) timely perform its duties as sponsor of the Trust, (iv) use its reasonable efforts to cause the Trust (a) to remain a business trust, except in connection with a distribution of the Subordinated Debentures, the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities of the Trust or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration, and (b) otherwise continue not to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or partnership for United States federal income tax purposes, and (v) to use its reasonable efforts to cause each holder of Preferred Securities and Common Securities to be treated as owning an individual beneficial interest in the Subordinated Debentures. Further, the defeasance provisions of the Base Indenture do not apply to the Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of Debt Securities -- Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance in the accompanying Prospectus.
BOOK-ENTRY AND SETTLEMENT
If distributed to holders of Preferred Securities in connection with the involuntary or voluntary dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Trust, it is presently anticipated that the Subordinated Debentures will be issued in the form of one or more global certificates (each a "Global Security") registered in the name of a securities depository or its nominee. Except under the limited circumstances described below, Subordinated Debentures represented by the Global Security will not be exchangeable for, and will not otherwise be issuable as, Subordinated Debentures in definitive form. The Global Securities described above may not be transferred except by the depository to a nominee of the depository or by a nominee of the depository to the depository or another nominee of the depository or to a successor depository or its nominee.
The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in such a Global Security.
Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in such a Global Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Subordinated Debentures in definitive form and will not be considered the Holders (as defined in the Indenture) thereof for any purpose under the Indenture, and no Global Security representing Subordinated Debentures shall be exchangeable, except for another Global Security of like denomination and tenor to be registered in the name of the depository or its nominee or to a successor depository or its nominee. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of the depository or if such person is not a Participant, on the procedures of the Participant through which such person owns its interest to exercise any rights of a Holder under the Indenture.
THE DEPOSITORY
If Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of Preferred Securities in liquidation of such holders' interests in the Trust, DTC will act as securities depository for the Subordinated Debentures. For a description of DTC and the specific terms of the depository arrangements, see "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Book-Entry Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company." As of the date of this Prospectus Supplement, the description therein of DTC's book-entry system and DTC's practices as they relate to purchases, transfers, notices and payments with respect to the Preferred Securities apply in all material respects to any debt obligations represented by one or more Global Securities held by DTC. The Company may appoint a successor to DTC or any successor depository in the event DTC or such successor depository is unable or unwilling to continue as the depository for the Global Securities.
None of the Company, the Trust, the Indenture Trustee, any paying agent and any other agent of the Company or the Indenture Trustee 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 Debentures or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
DISCONTINUANCE OF THE DEPOSITORY'S SERVICES
A Global Security shall be exchangeable for Subordinated Debentures in definitive certificated form registered in the names of persons other than the depository or its nominee only if (i) the depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a depository for such Global Security and no
S-33

successor depository shall have been appointed, (ii) the depository, at any time, ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at which time the depository is required to be so registered to act as such depository and no successor depository shall have been appointed, or (iii) the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Subordinated Debentures registered in such names as the depository shall direct. It is expected that such instructions will be based upon directions received by the depository from its Participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Security.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Company will pay all fees and expenses related to (i) the offering of the Trust Securities and the Subordinated Debentures, (ii) the organization, maintenance and dissolution of the Trust, (iii) the retention of the Conseco Trustees and (iv) the enforcement by the Property Trustee of the rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST GUARANTEE
Pursuant to the Trust Guarantee, the Company will irrevocably and unconditionally agree, to the extent set forth therein, to pay in full, to the holders of the Preferred Securities issued by the Trust, the Guarantee Payments (as defined in the accompanying Prospectus) (except to the extent paid by the Trust), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Trust may have or assert. The Company's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Company to the holders of Preferred Securities or by causing the Trust to pay such amounts to such holders. The Trust Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. State Street Bank and Trust Company National Bank will act as indenture trustee under the Trust Guarantee. The terms of the Trust Guarantee will be those set forth in such Trust Guarantee and those made part of such Trust Guarantee by the Trust Indenture Act. The Trust Guarantee will be held by the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company has failed to make a payment under the Trust Guarantee, any holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company for enforcement of the Trust Guarantee with respect to payment to the record holder of the Preferred Securities of the principal or interest on the Subordinated Debentures held by the Trust on or after the respective due dates specified in the Subordinated Debentures (taking into account any Extension Period), without first instituting a legal proceeding directly against the Trust, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. A summary description of the Trust Guarantee appears in the accompanying Prospectus under the caption "Description of the Trust Guarantees."
EFFECT OF OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE SUBORDINATED
DEBENTURES AND THE TRUST GUARANTEE
As set forth in the Declaration, the sole purpose of the Trust is to (i) issue the Trust Securities evidencing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (ii) invest the proceeds from such issuance and sale in the Subordinated Debentures and (iii) engage in only those other activities necessary or incidental thereto.
As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on the Subordinated Debentures, such payments will be sufficient to cover distributions and payments due on the Trust Securities because: (i) the aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Debentures will be equal to the sum of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Trust Securities; (ii) the interest rate and the interest and other payment dates on the Subordinated Debentures will match the distribution rate and distribution and other payment dates for the Preferred Securities; (iii) the Company shall pay all, and the Trust shall not be obligated to pay, directly or indirectly, any, costs, expenses, debts and obligations (other than with respect to the Trust Securities) related to the Trust; and (iv) the Declaration provides that the Conseco Trustees shall not cause or permit the Trust to, among other things, engage in any activity that is not consistent with the purposes of the Trust.
S-34

Payments of distributions (to the extent funds therefor are available) and other payments due on the Preferred Securities (to the extent funds therefor are available) are guaranteed by the Company as and to the extent set forth under "Description of Trust Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus. If the Company does not make interest and/or principal payments on the Subordinated Debentures purchased by the Trust, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to pay distributions on the Preferred Securities. The Trust Guarantee will not apply to the payment of distributions and other payments on the Preferred Securities when the Trust does not have sufficient funds to make such distributions or other payments.
The Trust Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Company and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of the Company except those made pari passu or subordinate by their terms, (ii) pari passu with the most senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Company and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Company in respect of any preferred or preference stock of any affiliate of the Company, and (iii) senior to the Company Common Stock.
The Trust Guarantee, when taken together with the back-up undertakings, consisting of obligations of the Company as set forth in the Declaration (including the obligation to pay expenses of the Trust), the Indenture and any applicable supplemental indentures thereto, and the Subordinated Debentures issued to the Trust, provide a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the amounts due on the Preferred Securities. If the Company fails to make interest or other payments on the Subordinated Debentures when due (taking account of any Extension Period), the Declaration provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the Preferred Securities, using the procedures described in "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Book-Entry Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company" and "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Voting Rights," may direct the Property Trustee to enforce its rights under the Subordinated Debentures. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its right under the Subordinated Debentures, a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding against the Company to enforce the Property Trustee's rights under the Subordinated Debentures without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Declaration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest or principal on the Subordinated Debentures on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable (taking into account any Extension Periods), then a holder of Preferred Securities may directly institute a legal proceeding against the Company for payment. The Company, under the Trust Guarantee, acknowledges that the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee shall enforce the Trust Guarantee on behalf of the holders of the Preferred Securities. If the Company fails to make payments under the Trust Guarantee, the Trust Guarantee provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the Preferred Securities may direct the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee to enforce its rights thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company has failed to make a payment under the Trust Guarantee, any holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company for enforcement of the Trust Guarantee with respect to payment to the record holder of the Preferred Securities of the principal or interest on the Subordinated Debentures held by the Trust on or after the respective due dates specified in the Subordinated Debentures (taking into account any Extension Periods), without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Trust, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, or any other person or entity.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION
GENERAL
This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), Treasury regulations thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, each as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. The authorities on which this summary is based are subject to various interpretations, and the opinions expressed herein are not binding on the IRS or the courts, either of which could take a contrary position. Moreover, no rulings have been or will be sought from the IRS with respect to the transactions described herein. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge the opinions expressed herein or that a court would not sustain such a challenge.
S-35

Except as otherwise stated, this summary deals only with Preferred Securities held as a capital asset (within the meaning of section 1221 of the Code) by a holder who or which (i) purchased the Preferred Securities upon original issuance at their original offering price and (ii) is a US Holder (as defined below). This summary does not address all the tax consequences that may be relevant to a US Holder, nor does it address the tax consequences, except as stated below, to holders that are not US Holders ("Non-US Holders") or to holders that may be subject to special tax treatment (such as banks, thrift institutions, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, insurance companies, brokers and dealers in securities or currencies, other financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, persons holding the Preferred Securities as a position in a "straddle," or as part of a "synthetic security," "hedging," as part of a "conversion" transaction or other integrated investment, persons having a functional currency other than the U.S. Dollar, and certain United States expatriates). Further, this summary does not address (a) the income tax consequences to shareholders in, or partners or beneficiaries of, a holder of the Preferred Securities, (b) the United States federal alternative minimum tax consequences of the purchase, ownership or disposition of the Preferred Securities, or (c) any state, local or foreign tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Preferred Securities.
A "US Holder" is a holder of the Preferred Securities who or which is (i) a citizen or individual resident (or is treated as a citizen or individual resident) of the United States for income tax purposes, (ii) a corporation or partnership created or organized (or treated as created or organized for federal income tax purposes) in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) an estate the income of which is includible in its gross income for United States federal income tax purposes without regard to its source, or (iv) 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 United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.
Classification of the Subordinated Debentures. Locke Reynolds Boyd & Weisell, legal counsel for the Company and the Trust, will render its opinion generally to the effect that, under then current law and assuming full compliance with the terms of the Indenture (and certain other documents), the Subordinated Debentures will be classified for all United States federal income tax purposes as indebtedness of the Company.
Classification of the Trust. Locke Reynolds Boyd & Weisell will render its opinion generally to the effect that, under then current law and assuming full compliance with the terms of the Declaration, the Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation. Accordingly, for United States federal income tax purposes, each holder of Capital Securities generally will be considered the owner of an undivided interest in the Subordinated Debentures and each US Holder will be required to include in gross income all interest on (including OID accrued, if any) or gain recognized for United States federal income tax purposes with respect to its allocable share of the Subordinated Debentures.
US HOLDERS
Interest Income and Original Issue Discount. Under applicable Treasury regulations (the "Regulations"), remote contingencies that stated interest will not be timely paid are ignored in determining whether a debt instrument is issued with OID. If the Subordinated Debentures are treated as issued with OID, such OID must be included in income by all holders as it accrues economically on a daily basis, without regard to when it is paid in cash or whether a particular holder generally uses the cash method of accounting. The Company has concluded that the likelihood of its exercising its option to defer payments of interest is remote. This conclusion is based on the Company's analysis, as of the date of issue of the Subordinated Debentures, of various facts and circumstances deemed relevant to exercising such deferral option, including, among other
S-36

things, the inability of the Company (a) to declare or pay a dividend, or engage in certain other capital transactions, with respect to its capital stock, or (b) to make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on, or repay, repurchase or redeem, any debt of the Company that ranks pari passu with or junior to the Subordinated Debentures if the deferral option is exercised. Based upon this conclusion and in the absence of any specific definition of "remote" in the applicable Regulations, in the opinion of Locke Reynolds Boyd & Weisell, although the matter is not entirely free from doubt, the Subordinated Debentures will not be subject to the OID rules unless the Company exercises its option to extend the interest payment period. As a consequence, holders of the Preferred Securities should report interest under their own methods of accounting (e.g., cash or accrual) instead of under the daily economic accrual rules for OID instruments.
Under the Regulations, if the Company exercises its option to defer payments of interest, the Subordinated Debentures would be treated as redeemed and reissued for OID purposes and the sum of the remaining interest payments on the Subordinated Debentures would thereafter be treated as OID, which would accrue, and be includible in a US Holder's taxable income, on an economic accrual basis (regardless of the US Holder's method of accounting for income tax purposes) over the remaining term of the Subordinated Debentures (including any period of interest deferral), without regard to the timing of payments under the Subordinated Debentures.
The IRS could take the position that the likelihood that the Company would exercise its right to defer payments of interest is not a "remote" contingency for purposes of the OID rules, in which case, the Subordinated Debentures would be treated as initially issued with OID in an amount equal to the aggregate stated interest over the term of the Subordinated Debentures. That OID would generally be includible in a US Holder's taxable income, over the term of the Subordinated Debentures, on an economic accrual basis.
Characterization of Income. Because the income underlying the Preferred Securities will not be classified as dividends for income tax purposes, corporate US Holders of Preferred Securities will not be entitled to a dividends-received deduction for any income recognized with respect to the Preferred Securities.
Sales of Preferred Securities. A US Holder that sells Preferred Securities will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale of the Preferred Securities and such holder's adjusted tax basis in such Preferred Securities. To the extent of any accrued but unpaid interest, the amount realized on the sale of such Preferred Securities will be treated as ordinary income. Assuming the Company does not defer interest on the Subordinated Debentures by extending the interest payment period, a US Holder's "adjusted tax basis" in the Preferred Securities generally will equal its initial purchase price. If the Company elects to defer interest payments, a US Holder's adjusted tax basis in the Preferred Securities generally will be its initial purchase price increased by any OID previously included in such holder's gross income to the date of disposition and decreased by payments received on the Preferred Securities to the date of disposition. Any gain or loss recognized generally will be a capital gain or loss. The highest marginal individual federal income tax rate (which applies to ordinary income and gain from sales or exchanges of capital assets held for one year or less) is 39.6%. The maximum regular federal income tax rate on capital gains derived by individual taxpayers is 20% for sales and exchanges of capital assets held for more than one year. All net capital gain of a corporate taxpayer is subject to tax at ordinary corporate income tax rates of up to 35%.
The Preferred Securities may trade at a price that does not accurately reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest with respect to the underlying Subordinated Debentures. A holder who disposes of Preferred Securities between record dates for payments of distributions thereon will be required to include in income (to the extent not previously included in income) as ordinary income amounts attributable to accrued and unpaid interest on the Subordinated Debentures through the date of disposition and the amount realized on disposition excludes the portion of the sales price treated as interest. To the extent the selling price is less than the holder's adjusted tax basis, a holder 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.
If the Company elects to defer payments of interest, the market value of the Preferred Securities will likely fall. Furthermore, the market value of the Preferred Securities may not reflect the accumulated distribution that will be paid at the end of the Extension Period. A US Holder who disposes of Preferred Securities during an Extension Period will be required to include as ordinary income the accrued OID on the
S-37

Subordinated Debentures through the date of disposition as ordinary income and add such amount to the US Holder's adjusted basis in the Preferred Securities disposed of. To the extent the selling price is less than the US Holder's adjusted tax basis, the US Holder will recognize capital loss. Subject to certain limited exceptions, capital losses cannot be applied to offset ordinary income for United States federal income tax purposes.
Receipt of Subordinated Debentures or Cash Upon Liquidation of the Trust. Under certain circumstances described herein (see "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Distribution of the Subordinated Debentures"), the Trust may distribute the Subordinated Debentures to holders in exchange for the Preferred Securities and in liquidation of the Trust. Except as discussed below, such a distribution would not be a taxable event for United States federal income tax purposes, and each US Holder would have an aggregate adjusted basis in its Subordinated Debentures for United States federal income tax purposes equal to such holder's aggregate adjusted basis in its Preferred Securities. (For a description of adjusted basis in the Preferred Securities, see discussion above in "-- Sales of Preferred Securities.") For United States federal income tax purposes, a US Holder's holding period in the Subordinated Debentures received in such a liquidation of the Trust would include the period during which the Preferred Securities were held by the holder.
Under certain circumstances described herein (see "Description of the Preferred Securities" and "Description of the Subordinated Debentures"), the Subordinated Debentures may be redeemed for cash and the proceeds of such redemption distributed to holders in redemption of their Preferred Securities. Such a redemption would be taxable for United States federal income tax purposes, and a US Holder would recognize gain or loss as if it had sold the Preferred Securities for cash. See "-- Sales of Preferred Securities" above.
PROPOSED TAX LAW CHANGES
From time to time, the Clinton Administration has proposed certain tax law changes that would, among other things, generally deny interest deductions to a corporate issuer if the debt instrument has a term exceeding 15 years (earlier proposed tax law changes would have denied interest deductions if the debt instrument had a term exceeding 20 years) and if such debt instrument is not reflected as indebtedness on such issuer's consolidated balance sheet. Because the term of the Subordinated Debentures exceeds 15 years, if a proposal of this sort were to become effective, the Company could be precluded from deducting interest on the Subordinated Debentures. Enactment of any such proposal might in turn give rise to a Tax Event which, if the Company were to exercise its optional right to redeem the Subordinated Debentures, would thereby result in a mandatory redemption of the Preferred Securities, as described under "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Mandatory Redemption."
Prospective investors should also be aware that a petition was recently filed in the United States Tax Court as a result of a challenge by the IRS of a taxpayer's treatment as indebtedness of a security issued with characteristics similar to the Subordinated Debentures. If this matter is litigated to a conclusion and the IRS's position on this matter is sustained, such a judicial determination could constitute a Tax Event which could result in an early redemption of the Preferred Securities. See "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption."
NON-US HOLDERS
Payments to a Non-US holder will generally not be subject to withholding of income tax, provided that such holder of the Preferred Securities (a) does not (directly or indirectly, actually or constructively) own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company entitled to vote, (b) is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to the Company through stock ownership and (c) is not a bank receiving interest described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code. To qualify for this exemption from withholding taxation, the last United States payor in the chain of payment prior to payment to a Non-US Holder (the "Withholding Agent") must have received in the year in which a payment of interest or principal occurs, or in either of the two preceding calendar years, a statement that (i) is signed by the holder of the Preferred Securities under penalties of perjury, (ii) certifies that such holder is not a US Holder and (iii) provides the name and address of the holder. The statement may be made on an IRS Form W-8 or a substantially similar form, and the holder must inform the Withholding Agent of any change in the information on the statement within 30 days of such change. If the Preferred Securities are held through a
S-38

securities clearing organization or certain other financial institutions, the organization or institution may provide a signed statement to the Withholding Agent. However, in such case, the signed statement must be accompanied by a copy of the IRS Form W-8 or the substitute form provided by the holder to the organization or institution.
As discussed above (see "-- Proposed Tax Law Changes"), changes in legislation, if any, affecting the income tax consequences of the Subordinated Debentures could adversely affect the ability of the Company to deduct the interest payable on the Subordinated Debentures. Moreover, any such legislation could adversely affect Non-US Holders by characterizing income derived from the Subordinated Debentures as dividends, generally subject to a 30% income tax (on a withholding basis) when paid to a Non-US Holder, rather than as interest which, as discussed above, is generally exempt from income tax in the hands of a Non-US Holder.
A Non-US Holder of a Preferred Security will generally not be subject to withholding of income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of Preferred Securities.
A Non-US Holder that holds Preferred Securities in connection with the active conduct of a United States trade or business will be subject to income tax on all income and gains recognized with respect to its proportionate share of the Subordinated Debentures.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING
Backup withholding of United States federal income tax at a rate of 31% may apply to payments made in respect of the Preferred Securities to registered owners who are not "exempt recipients" and who fail to provide certain identifying information (such as the registered owner's taxpayer identification number) in the required manner. Generally, individuals are not exempt recipients, whereas corporations and certain other entities generally are exempt recipients. Payments made in respect of the Preferred Securities to a US Holder must be reported to the IRS, unless the US Holder is an exempt recipient or establishes an exemption. Compliance with the identification procedures described in the preceding section would establish an exemption from backup withholding for those Non-US Holders who are not exempt recipients.
In addition, upon the sale of the Preferred Securities to (or through) a broker, the broker must withhold 31% of the entire purchase price, unless either
(i) the broker determines that the seller is a corporation or other exempt recipient or (ii) the seller provides, in the required manner, certain identifying information and, in the case of a Non-US Holder, certifies that such seller is a Non-US Holder (and certain other conditions are met). Such a sale must also be reported by the broker to the IRS, unless either (i) the broker determines that the seller is an exempt recipient or (ii) the seller certifies its Non-U.S. status (and certain other conditions are met). Certification of the registered owner's Non-U.S. status would be made normally on an IRS Form W-8 under penalties of perjury, although in certain cases it may be possible to submit other documentary evidence.
FINAL WITHHOLDING REGULATIONS
Recently promulgated Treasury regulations (the "Final Regulations"), effective for payments made after December 31, 1999, provide alternative methods for satisfying the certification requirements described above under "Non-US Holders" and "Backup Withholding." The Final Regulations also will require, in the case of Preferred Securities held by foreign partnerships, that (i) the certification described above be provided by the partners rather than the foreign partnership (unless the foreign partnership agrees to become a "withholding foreign partnership") and (ii) the partnership provides certain information, including a US taxpayer identification number. A look-through rule will apply in the case of tiered partnerships. Prospective investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the Final Regulations.
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE IS INCLUDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE DEPENDING UPON A HOLDER'S PARTICULAR SITUATION. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.
S-39

ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
Each fiduciary of a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA") (a "Plan"), should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA in the context of the Plan's particular circumstances before authorizing an investment in the Preferred Securities with assets of the Plan. Accordingly, among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA and would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the Plan.
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit Plans, as well as individual retirement accounts and Keogh plans subject to Section 4975 of the Code (also "Plans"), from engaging in certain transactions involving "plan assets" with persons who are "parties in interest" under ERISA or "disqualified persons" under the Code ("Parties in Interest") with respect to such Plan. A violation of these "prohibited transaction" rules may result in an excise tax or other liabilities under ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code for such persons, unless exemptive relief is available under an applicable statutory or administrative exemption.
Employee benefit plans that are governmental plans (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA), certain church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA) and foreign plans (as described in Section 4(b)(5) of ERISA) are not subject to the requirements of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code; however, such plans may be subject to federal, state or local laws or regulations which affect their ability to invest in the Preferred Securities. Any fiduciary of such a governmental, church or foreign plan considering an investment in the Preferred Securities should determine the need for, and, if necessary, the availability of, any exemptive relief under such laws or regulations.
Under a regulation (the "Plan Assets Regulation") issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (the "DOL"), the assets of the Trust would be deemed to be "plan assets" of a Plan for purposes of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code if "plan assets" of the Plan were used to acquire an equity interest in the Trust and no exception were applicable under the Plan Assets Regulation. An "equity interest" is defined under the Plan Assets Regulation as any interest in an entity other than an instrument which is treated as indebtedness under applicable local law and which has no substantial equity features and specifically includes a beneficial interest in a trust.
Pursuant to an exception contained in the Plan Assets Regulation, the assets of the Trust would not be deemed to be "plan assets" of investing Plans if, immediately after the most recent acquisition of any equity interest in the Trust, less than 25% of the value of each class of equity interests in the Trust were held by Plans, other employee benefit plans not subject to ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (such as governmental, church and foreign plans), and entities holding assets deemed to be "plan assets" of any Plan (collectively, "Benefit Plan Investors"), or if the Preferred Securities were "publicly-offered securities" for purposes of the Plan Assets Regulation. No assurance can be given that the value of the Preferred Securities held by Benefit Plan Investors will be less than 25% of the total value of such Preferred Securities at the completion of the initial offering or thereafter, and no monitoring or other measures will be taken with respect to the satisfaction of the conditions of this exception. In addition, no assurance can be given that the Preferred Securities would be considered to be "publicly-offered securities" under the Plan Assets Regulation. All of the Common Securities will be purchased and held by the Company.
Certain transactions involving the Trust could be deemed to constitute direct or indirect prohibited transactions under ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code with respect to a Plan if the Preferred Securities were acquired with "plan assets" of such Plan and the assets of the Trust were deemed to be "plan assets" of Plans investing in the Trust. For example, if the Company were a Party in Interest with respect to a Plan (either directly or by reason of ownership of its subsidiaries), extensions of credit between the Company and the Trust (as represented by the Subordinated Debentures and the Trust Guarantee) would likely be prohibited by Section 406(a)(1)(B) of ERISA and Section 4975(c)(1)(B) of the Code, unless exemptive relief were available under an applicable administrative exemption (see below). In addition, if the Company were considered to be a fiduciary with respect to the Trust as a result of certain powers it holds (such as the powers to remove and replace the Property Trustee and the Regular Trustees), certain operations of the Trust, including the optional redemption or acceleration of the Subordinated Debentures, could be considered to be
S-40

prohibited transactions under Section 406(b) of ERISA and Section 4975(c)(1)(E) of the Code. In order to avoid such prohibited transactions, each investing plan, by purchasing Preferred Securities, will be deemed to have directed the Trust to invest in the Subordinated Debentures and to have appointed the Property Trustee.
The DOL has issued five prohibited transaction class exemptions ("PTCEs") that may provide exemptive relief if required for direct or indirect prohibited transactions that may arise from the purchase or holding of the Preferred Securities if assets of the Trust were deemed to be "plan assets" of Plans investing in the Trust as described above. Those class exemptions are PTCE 96-23 (for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), PTCE 95-60 (for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTCE 91-38 (for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds), PTCE 90-1 (for certain transactions involving insurance company separate accounts), and PTCE 84-14 (for certain transactions determined by independent qualified asset managers).
Because the Preferred Securities may be deemed to be equity interests in the Trust for purposes of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code, the Preferred Securities may not be purchased and should not be held by any Plan, any entity whose underlying assets include "plan assets" by reason of any Plan's investment in the entity (a "Plan Asset Entity") or any person investing "plan assets" of any Plan, unless such purchaser or holder is eligible for the exemptive relief available under PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14 or another applicable exemption. Any purchaser or holder of the Preferred Securities or any interest therein will be deemed to have represented by its purchase and holding thereof that it either (a) is not a Plan or a Plan Asset Entity and is not purchasing such securities on behalf of or with "plan assets" of any Plan, or (b) is eligible for the exemptive relief available under PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14 or another applicable exemption with respect to such purchase or holding.
Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the Preferred Securities on behalf of or with "plan assets" of any Plan consult with their counsel regarding the potential consequences if the assets of the Trust were deemed to be "plan assets" and the availability of exemptive relief under PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14 or any other applicable exemption.
THE DISCUSSION HEREIN OF ERISA IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE COMPLETE. ANY FIDUCIARY OF A PLAN, GOVERNMENTAL PLAN OR CHURCH PLAN CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT IN THE PREFERRED SECURITIES SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS LEGAL ADVISORS REGARDING THE CONSEQUENCES AND ADVISABILITY OF SUCH INVESTMENT.
Insurance companies considering an investment in the Preferred Securities should note that the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 added new Section 401(c) of ERISA relating to the status of the assets of insurance company general accounts under ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code. Pursuant to Section
401(c), the DOL issued proposed regulations (the "Proposed General Account Regulations") in December, 1997 with respect to insurance policies that are supported by an insurer's general account. The Proposed General Account Regulations are intended to provide guidance on which assets held by the insurer constitute "plan assets" of an ERISA Plan for purposes of the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code.
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") among the Company, the Trust and each of the underwriters named below (collectively, the "Underwriters"), the Trust has agreed to sell to each of the Underwriters named herein, and each of the Underwriters for whom Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, CIBC Oppenheimer Corp., A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc., PaineWebber Incorporated, Prudential Securities Incorporated and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. are acting as representatives (the "Representatives"), has severally agreed to purchase from the Trust, the respective number of Preferred Securities set forth below opposite its name. In the Underwriting Agreement, the several Underwriters have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to purchase all the Preferred Securities offered hereby if any of the Preferred Securities are purchased. In the event of default by an Underwriter, the Underwriting Agreement provides
S-41

that, in certain circumstances, the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting Underwriters may be increased or the Underwriting Agreement may be terminated.

                                                                   NUMBER OF
               UNDERWRITERS                                   PREFERRED SECURITIES
               ------------                                   --------------------
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
             Incorporated...................................           830,000
CIBC Oppenheimer Corp. .....................................           815,000
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc....................................           815,000
Lehman Brothers Inc. .......................................           815,000
PaineWebber Incorporated....................................           815,000
Prudential Securities Incorporated..........................           815,000
Salomon Smith Barney Inc. ..................................           815,000
ABN AMRO Incorporated.......................................            80,000
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated.................................            80,000
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated..........................            80,000
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. ...................................            80,000
Dain Rauscher Incorporated..................................            80,000
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation.........            80,000
EVEREN Securities, Inc. ....................................            80,000
Fleet Securities, Inc. .....................................            80,000
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated........................            80,000
McDonald & Company Securities, Inc. ........................            80,000
Piper Jaffray Inc. .........................................            80,000
Raymond James & Associates, Inc. ...........................            80,000
Sands Brothers & Co., Ltd. .................................            80,000
SG Cowen Securities Corporation.............................            80,000
Tucker Anthony Incorporated.................................            80,000
Warburg Dillon Read LLC.....................................            80,000
Wheat First Securities, Inc. ...............................            80,000
Advest, Inc. ...............................................            40,000
J.C. Bradford & Co. ........................................            40,000
Craigie Incorporated........................................            40,000
Crowell, Weedon & Co. ......................................            40,000
Fahnestock & Co. Inc. ......................................            40,000
Fidelity Capital Markets
  A division of National Financial Services Corp. ..........            40,000
First Albany Corporation....................................            40,000
Gibraltar Securities Co. ...................................            40,000
Gruntal & Co., L.L.C. ......................................            40,000
J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc. ..........................            40,000
Interstate/Johnson Lane Corporation.........................            40,000
Janney Montgomery Scott Inc. ...............................            40,000
Kirkpatrick, Pettis, Smith, Polian Inc. ....................            40,000
McGinn, Smith & Co., Inc. ..................................            40,000
Mesirow Financial, Inc. ....................................            40,000
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. ..............................            40,000
David A. Noyes & Company....................................            40,000
The Robinson-Humphrey Company, LLC..........................            40,000
Roney Capital Markets
  A division of First Chicago Capital Markets Inc. .........            40,000
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated....................            40,000
Stone & Youngberg...........................................            40,000
TD Securities (USA) Inc. ...................................            40,000
Utendahl Capital Partners, L.P. ............................            40,000
                                                                     ---------
                                                                     8,000,000
                                                                     =========	

S-42

The Underwriters propose initially to offer the Preferred Securities to the public at the public offering price, as set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement, and to certain dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of $.50 per Preferred Security. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess of $.45 per Preferred Security to certain other dealers. After the initial public offering, the public offering price, concession and discount may from time to time be varied by the Representatives.
In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred Securities will be used to purchase the Subordinated Debentures of the Company, the Underwriting Agreement provides that the Company will agree to pay as compensation to the Underwriters arranging the investment therein of such proceeds, an amount in same day funds of $.7875 per Preferred Security (or $6,300,000 in the aggregate).
The Trust has granted to the Underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days following the date of this Prospectus Supplement, to purchase up to an aggregate of an additional 1,200,000 Preferred Securities from the Trust for $25 per Preferred Security. If the Underwriters exercise such option, the Company will pay as compensation to the Underwriters an amount in same day funds of $.7875 for each such Preferred Security purchased. The Underwriters may exercise this option only to cover over-allotments, if any, made on the sale of the Preferred Securities offered hereby. If the Underwriters exercise their over-allotment option, each of the Underwriters has severally agreed, subject to certain conditions, to effect the foregoing transactions with respect to approximately the same percentage of such Preferred Securities that the respective number of Preferred Securities set forth opposite its name in the foregoing table bears to the Preferred Securities offered hereby.
During a period of 30 days from the date of this Prospectus Supplement, neither the Trust nor the Company will, without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, directly or indirectly, sell, offer to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of, any Preferred Securities, any security convertible into or exchangeable into or exercisable for Preferred Securities or the Subordinated Debentures or any debt securities substantially similar to the Subordinated Debentures or any equity securities substantially similar to the Preferred Securities (except for the Subordinated Debentures and the Preferred Securities offered hereby).
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Preferred Securities. Application will be made to list the Preferred Securities on the New York Stock Exchange. 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 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 have no obligation to make a market in the Preferred Securities, however, and may cease market making activities, if commenced, at any time. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading 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.
Until the distribution of the Preferred Securities is completed, the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission may limit the ability of the Underwriters to bid for and purchase the Preferred Securities. As an exception to these rules, the Underwriters will be permitted to engage in certain transactions that stabilize the price of the Preferred Securities. Such transactions consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the Preferred Securities.
If the Underwriters create a short position in the Preferred Securities in connection with this offering, i.e., if they sell more Preferred Securities than are set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement, the Representatives may reduce that short position by purchasing Preferred Securities in the open market.
The Representatives also may impose a penalty bid on certain Underwriters and selling group members. This means that if the Representatives purchase Preferred Securities in the open market to reduce the Underwriters' short position or to stabilize the price of the Preferred Securities they may reclaim the amount of the selling concession from the Underwriters and selling group members who sold those Preferred Securities as part of this offering.
S-43

In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of a security to the extent that it were to discourage resales of the security.
Neither the Company nor the Underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the Preferred Securities. In addition, neither the Company nor the Underwriters make any representation that the Underwriters will engage in such transactions. Any such transactions, once commenced, may be discontinued at any time without notice.
The Company and the Trust have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against, or contribute to payments that the Underwriters may be required to make in respect of, certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, certain of the Underwriters have performed, and may in the future perform, investment banking or commercial banking services for the Company and certain of its affiliates.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Preferred Securities will be passed upon on behalf of the Trust by Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware, special Delaware counsel to the Trust. The validity of the Subordinated Debentures, the Trust Guarantee and certain matters relating thereto, will be passed upon on behalf of the Company and the Trust by John J. Sabl, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Company. Mr. Sabl is a full-time employee and an officer of the Company and owns 80,000 shares of Company Common Stock and holds options to purchase 450,000 shares of Company Common Stock. Locke Reynolds Boyd & Weisell, Indianapolis, Indiana, will pass upon certain legal matters on behalf of the Company and the Trust. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters by LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P., a limited liability partnership including professional corporations, New York, New York. LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P. represents the Company from time to time in connection with certain legal matters.
EXPERTS
The supplemental consolidated financial statements of the Company (included in Exhibit 99.1 of Conseco's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 30, 1998, as amended) as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the three years ended December 31, 1997, which are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement, have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, as set forth in their report thereon, except for the consolidated financial statements of Green Tree for such periods (which financial statements are consolidated with those of Conseco and for which separate financial data are not presented herein) which were audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP. The report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the supplemental consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the three years ended December 31, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report, given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Green Tree as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997, (included in Conseco's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 30, 1998, as amended), which is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement, have been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public accountants, as set forth in their report thereon incorporated by reference herein, and are incorporated by reference in reliance upon such report, given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
S-44

PROSPECTUS
$2,000,000,000
CONSECO, INC.
DEBT SECURITIES, PREFERRED STOCK, DEPOSITARY SHARES, COMMON STOCK, STOCK
PURCHASE CONTRACTS, STOCK PURCHASE UNITS AND WARRANTS
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST V
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST VI
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST VII
PREFERRED SECURITIES FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED
 BY CONSECO, INC.
Conseco, Inc., an Indiana corporation ("Conseco" or the "Company"), may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more series, (i) its debt securities, consisting of debentures, notes and/or other evidences of indebtedness representing unsecured obligations of Conseco (the "Debt Securities"), (ii) shares of its preferred stock, no par value per share ("Preferred Stock"), which may be represented by depositary shares (the "Depositary Shares") as described herein, (iii) shares of its common stock, no par value per share ("Common Stock"), (iv) Stock Purchase Contracts ("Stock Purchase Contracts") to purchase shares of Common Stock, (v) Stock Purchase Units, each representing ownership of a Stock Purchase Contract and Preferred Securities (as defined herein) or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, securing the holder's obligation to purchase Common Stock under the Stock Purchase Contracts ("Stock Purchase Units") and (vi) warrants to purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock or other securities or rights ("Warrants").
Conseco Financing Trust V, Conseco Financing Trust VI and Conseco Financing Trust VII (each, a "Conseco Trust"), statutory business trusts formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, may offer, from time to time, preferred securities, representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the respective Conseco Trusts ("Preferred Securities"). The payment of periodic cash distributions ("Distributions") with respect to Preferred Securities out of moneys held by each of the Conseco Trusts, and payments on liquidation, redemption or otherwise with respect to such Preferred Securities, will be guaranteed by the Company to the extent described herein (each, a "Trust Guarantee"). See "Description of Preferred Securities" and "Description of Trust Guarantees." The Company's obligations under the Trust Guarantees will rank junior and subordinate in right of payment to all other liabilities of the Company and pari passu with its obligations under the most senior preferred or preference stock of the Company. See "Description of Trust Guarantees -- Status of the Trust Guarantees." Subordinated Debt Securities (as defined herein) may be issued and sold by the Company in one or more series to a Conseco Trust or a trustee of such Conseco Trust in connection with the investment of the proceeds from the offering of Preferred Securities and Common Securities (as defined herein) of such Conseco Trust. The Subordinated Debt Securities purchased by a Conseco Trust may be subsequently distributed pro rata to holders of Preferred Securities and Common Securities in connection with the dissolution of such Conseco Trust. The Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Common Stock, Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants and Preferred Securities are herein collectively referred to as the "Securities."
Certain specific terms of the particular Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered will be set forth in an accompanying supplement to this Prospectus (the "Prospectus Supplement"), which will describe, without limitation and where applicable, the following: (i) in the case of Debt Securities, the specific designation, aggregate principal amount, ranking as senior or subordinated Debt Securities, denomination, maturity, premium, if any, interest rate (which may be fixed or variable), time and method of calculating interest, if any, place or places where principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Debt Securities will be payable, the currencies or currency units in which principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Debt Securities will be payable, any terms of redemption or conversion, any sinking fund provisions, the

purchase price, any listing on a securities exchange, any right of the Company to defer payment of interest on the Debt Securities and the maximum length of such deferral period and other special terms; (ii) in the case of Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares, the specific designation, stated value and liquidation preference per share and number of shares offered, the purchase price, dividend rate (which may be fixed or variable), method of calculating payment of dividends, place or places where dividends on such Preferred Stock will be payable, any terms of redemption, dates on which dividends shall be payable and dates from which dividends shall accrue, any listing on a securities exchange, voting and other rights, including conversion or exchange rights, if any, and other special terms, including whether interests in the Preferred Stock will be represented by Depositary Shares and, if so, the fraction of a share of Preferred Stock represented by each Depositary Share; (iii) in the case of Common Stock, the number of shares offered, the initial offering price, market price and dividend information; (iv) in the case of Stock Purchase Contracts, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable thereunder, the purchase price of the Common Stock, the date or dates on which the Common Stock is required to be purchased by the holders of the Stock Purchase Contracts, any periodic payments required to be made by the Company to the holders of the Stock Purchase Contracts or vice versa, and the terms of the offering and sale thereof, (v) in the case of Stock Purchase Units, the specific terms of the Stock Purchase Contracts and any Preferred Securities or debt obligations of third parties securing the holder's obligation to purchase the Common Stock under the Stock Purchase Contracts, and the terms of the offering and sale thereof; (vi) in the case of Warrants, the specific designation, the number, purchase price, exercise price and other terms thereof, any listing of the Warrants or the underlying Securities on a securities exchange or any other terms in connection with the offering, sale and exercise of the Warrants, as well as the terms on which and the Securities for which such Warrants may be exercised; and (vii) in the case of Preferred Securities, the specific designation, number of securities, liquidation amount per security, the purchase price, any listing on a securities exchange, distribution rate (or method of calculation thereof), dates on which distributions shall be payable and dates from which distributions shall accrue, any voting rights, terms for any conversion or exchange into other securities, any redemption, exchange or sinking fund provisions, any other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations or restrictions relating to the Preferred Securities, the specific terms and provisions of the Guarantee and the terms upon which the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred Securities shall be used to purchase a specific series of Subordinated Debt Securities of the Company.
The offering price to the public of the Securities will be limited to U.S. $2,000,000,000 in the aggregate (or its equivalent (based on the applicable exchange rate at the time of issue), if Securities are offered for consideration denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units as shall be designated by the Company). The Debt Securities may be denominated in United States dollars or, at the option of the Company if so specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, in one or more foreign currencies or currency units. The Debt Securities may be issued in registered form or bearer form, or both. If so specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Securities of one or more classes or series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more temporary or permanent global securities.
The Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "CNC".
The Securities may be sold to or through underwriters, through dealers or agents or directly to purchasers. See "Plan of Distribution." The names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. See "Plan of Distribution" for possible indemnification arrangements for dealers, underwriters and agents.
This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of Securities unless accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this Prospectus is June 22, 1998.
2

State insurance holding company laws and regulations applicable to the Company generally provide that no person may acquire control of the Company, and thus indirect control of its insurance subsidiaries, unless such person has provided certain required information to, and such acquisition is approved (or not disapproved) by, the appropriate insurance regulatory authorities. Generally, any person acquiring beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Common Stock would be presumed to have acquired such control, unless the appropriate insurance regulatory authorities upon advance application determine otherwise.
NO DEALER, SALESMAN OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, ANY ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED OR DEEMED INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN. IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY UNDERWRITER, DEALER OR AGENT. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE REGISTERED SECURITIES TO WHICH IT RELATES, OR AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY THOSE SECURITIES TO WHICH IT RELATES, IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE, OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM, IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy statements and other information filed by Conseco with the Commission can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the following regional offices of the Commission: New York Regional Office, 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048; and Chicago Regional Office, Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of such material can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, upon payment of the prescribed rates. In addition, the Commission maintains a Web site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants, including the Company, that file electronically with the Commission. Copies of such reports, proxy statements and other information can also be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
The Company and the Conseco Trusts have filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the Securities offered hereby. This Prospectus, which constitutes part of the Registration Statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. Statements contained herein or in any Prospectus Supplement concerning the provisions of any document do not purport to be complete and, in each instance, are qualified in all respects by reference to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the Commission. For further information with respect to the Company, the Conseco Trusts and the Securities, reference is hereby made to such Registration Statement, including the exhibits thereto and the documents incorporated herein by reference, which can be examined at the Commission's principal office, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, or copies of which can be obtained from the Commission at such office upon payment of the fees prescribed by the Commission.
No separate financial statements of the Conseco Trusts have been included or incorporated by reference herein. The Company does not consider that such financial statements would be material to holders of the Preferred Securities because (i) all of the voting securities of the Conseco Trusts will be owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, a reporting company under the Exchange Act, (ii) the Conseco Trusts have and will have no independent operations but exist for the sole purpose of issuing securities representing undivided beneficial interests in their assets and investing the proceeds thereof in Subordinated Debt Securities issued by
3

the Company, and (iii) the Company's obligations described herein and in any accompanying Prospectus Supplement, under the Declaration (as defined herein) (including the obligation to pay expenses of the Conseco Trusts), the Subordinated Indenture and any supplemental indentures thereto, the Subordinated Debt Securities issued to the Conseco Trust and the Trust Guarantees taken together, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of payments due on the Preferred Securities. See "Description of Preferred Securities of the Conseco Trusts" and "Description of Trust Guarantees."
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents previously filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act are incorporated herein by this reference:
1. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 including Part III thereof which is incorporated by reference from the Company's proxy statement dated April 10, 1998 for its annual meeting of shareholders (the "Company's Annual Report");
2. Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998;
3. Current Reports on Form 8-K dated February 4, 1998, April 6, 1998, June 3, 1998, and June 4, 1998; and
4. The description of the Common Stock in its Registration Statements filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating any such description.
All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the termination of the offering made hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained herein, or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement. To the extent that any proxy statement is incorporated by reference herein, such incorporation shall not include any information contained in such proxy statement that is not, pursuant to the Commission's rules, deemed to be "filed" with the Commission or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act.
The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents). Any such request should be directed to James W. Rosensteele, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Conseco, Inc., 11825 N. Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032 (telephone number: (317) 817-2893).
4

THE COMPANY
The Company is a financial services holding company. The Company develops, markets and administers supplemental health insurance, annuity, life insurance, individual and group major medical insurance and other insurance products. Since 1982, the Company has acquired 19 insurance groups. The Company's operating strategy is to grow the insurance business within its subsidiaries by focusing its resources on the development and expansion of profitable products and strong distribution channels. The Company has supplemented such growth by acquiring companies that have profitable niche products and strong distribution systems. Once an insurance company has been acquired, the Company's operating strategy has been to consolidate and streamline management and administrative functions where appropriate, to realize superior investment returns through active asset management, to eliminate unprofitable products and distribution channels, and to expand and develop the profitable distribution channels and products.
The Company's executive offices are located at 11825 N. Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032. Its telephone number is (317) 817-6100.
THE CONSECO TRUSTS
Each of the Conseco Trusts is a statutory business trust formed under Delaware law pursuant to (i) a declaration of trust (each a "Declaration") executed by the Company as sponsor for such trust (the "Sponsor"), and the Conseco Trustees (as defined herein) of such trust and (ii) the filing of a certificate of trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 23, 1997. Each Conseco Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing and selling the Preferred Securities and common securities representing common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of such Conseco Trust (the "Common Securities" and, together with the Preferred Securities, the "Trust Securities"), (ii) using the gross proceeds from the sale of the Trust Securities to acquire the Subordinated Debt Securities and (iii) engaging in only those other activities necessary, appropriate, convenient or incidental thereto. All of the Common Securities will be directly or indirectly owned by the Company. The Common Securities will rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon pro rata, with the Preferred Securities, except that, if an event of default under the Declaration has occurred and is continuing, the rights of the holders of the Common Securities to payment 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 Company will directly or indirectly acquire Common Securities in an aggregate liquidation amount equal to at least 3% of the total capital of each Conseco Trust.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, each Conseco Trust has a term of up to 55 years but may terminate earlier, as provided in the Declaration. Each Conseco Trust's business and affairs will be conducted by the trustees (the "Conseco Trustees") appointed by the Company as the direct or indirect holder of all of the Common Securities. The holder of the Common Securities will be entitled to appoint, remove or replace any of, or increase or reduce the number of, the Conseco Trustees of each Conseco Trust. The duties and obligations of the Conseco Trustees shall be governed by the Declaration of such Conseco Trust. A majority of the Conseco Trustees (the "Regular Trustees") of each Conseco Trust will be persons who are employees or officers of or who are affiliated with the Company. One Conseco Trustee of each Conseco Trust will be a financial institution that is not affiliated with the Company and has a minimum amount of combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000, which shall act as property trustee and as indenture trustee for the purposes of compliance with the provisions of Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), pursuant to the terms set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement (the "Institutional Trustee"). In addition, unless the Institutional Trustee maintains a principal place of business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law, one Conseco Trustee of each Conseco Trust will be an entity having a principal place of business in, or a natural person resident of, the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Trustee"). The Company will pay all fees and expenses related to the Conseco Trust and the offering of the Trust Securities.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Institutional Trustee for each Conseco Trust shall be State Street Bank and Trust Company. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Delaware Trustee for each Conseco Trust shall be First Union Trust Company, National Association, and its address in the State of Delaware is One Rodney Square, 920 King Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. The principal place of business of each Conseco Trust shall be c/o Conseco, Inc., 11825 N. Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032; telephone (317) 817-6100.
5

USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise indicated in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the net proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Securities offered hereby are expected to be used for general corporate purposes. The proceeds from the sale of Preferred Securities by the Conseco Trusts will be invested in the Subordinated Debt Securities of the Company. Except as may otherwise be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Preferred Securities, the Company expects to use the net proceeds from the sale of such Subordinated Debt Securities to the Conseco Trusts for general corporate purposes. Any specific allocation of the proceeds to a particular purpose that has been made at the date of any Prospectus Supplement will be described therein.
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES, EARNINGS TO FIXED
CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
AND EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES, PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
AND DISTRIBUTIONS ON COMPANY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY
REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARY TRUSTS
The following table sets forth the Company's ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends and earnings to fixed charges, preferred stock dividends and distributions on Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts for each of the five years ended December 31, 1997 and for the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1998.

                                                                                    THREE MONTHS
                                                  YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,          ENDED MARCH 31,
                                           -------------------------------------   ---------------
                                           1993    1994    1995    1996    1997     1997     1998
                                           -----   -----   -----   -----   -----   ------   ------
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges:
  As reported............................  2.19X   2.26X   1.57X   1.61X   2.04X   1.96X    2.28X
  Excluding interest on annuities and
     financial product policyholder
     account balances(1)(2)..............  8.85X   4.55X   3.80X   4.55X   7.21X   7.36X    6.26X
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and
  preferred dividends:
     As reported.........................  2.04X   1.95X   1.50X   1.50X   1.95X   1.74X    2.25X
     Excluding interest on annuities and
       financial product policyholder
       account balances(1)(2)............  6.00X   3.14X   3.06X   3.14X   5.77X   4.07X    5.93X
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges,
  preferred dividends and distributions
  on Company-obligated mandatorily
  redeemable preferred securities of
  subsidiary trusts:
     As reported.........................  2.04X   1.95X   1.50X   1.49X   1.82X   1.65X    2.01X
     Excluding interest on annuities and
       financial product policyholder
       account balances(1)(2)............  6.00X   3.14X   3.06X   3.06X   4.20X   3.28X    4.05X	

(1) These ratios are included to assist the reader in analyzing the impact of interest on annuities and financial products (which is not generally required to be paid in cash in the period it is recognized). Such ratios are not intended to, and do not, represent the following ratios prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"): the ratio of earnings to fixed charges; the ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends; or the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, preferred dividends and distributions on Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts.
(2) Excludes interest credited to annuity and financial products of $408.5 million, $134.7 million, $585.4 million, $668.6 million and $806.7 million for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997, respectively, and $173.7 million and $188.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively.
6

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The Debt Securities offered hereby, consisting of notes, debentures and other evidences of indebtedness, are to be issued in one or more series constituting either senior Debt Securities ("Senior Debt Securities") or subordinated Debt Securities ("Subordinated Debt Securities"). Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Debt Securities will be issued pursuant to indentures described below (as applicable, the "Senior Indenture" or the "Subordinated Indenture", each, an "Indenture" and, together, the "Indentures"), in each case between the Company and the trustee identified therein (the "Trustee"), the forms of which have been filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. Except for the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture, for which there are no counterparts in the Senior Indenture, the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture are substantially identical in substance to the provisions of the Senior Indenture that bear the same section numbers.
The statements herein relating to the Debt Securities and the following summaries of certain general provisions of the Indentures do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Indentures (as they may be amended or supplemented from time to time), including the definitions therein of certain terms capitalized in this Prospectus. All article and section references appearing herein are to articles and sections of the applicable Indenture and whenever particular Sections or defined terms of the Indentures (as they may be amended or supplemented from time to time) are referred to herein or in a Prospectus Supplement, such Sections or defined terms are incorporated herein or therein by reference.
GENERAL
The Debt Securities will be unsecured obligations of the Company. The Indentures do not limit the aggregate amount of Debt Securities which may be issued thereunder, nor do they limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the Company. The Debt Securities issued under the Senior Indenture will be unsecured and will rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company. The Debt Securities issued under the Subordinated Indenture will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Subordinated Indenture, to all Senior Indebtedness of the Company. See "-- Subordination under the Subordinated Indenture."
Reference is made to the applicable Prospectus Supplement which will accompany this Prospectus for a description of the specific series of Debt Securities being offered thereby, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) the title, designation and purchase price, of such Debt Securities, including whether the Debt Securities are Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated Debt Securities and whether such Debt Securities will be issued under the Senior Indenture, the Subordinated Indenture or other indenture set forth in the Prospectus Supplement; (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of such Debt Securities; (3) the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on such Debt Securities will mature or the method of determining such date or dates; (4) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which such Debt Securities will bear interest, if any, or the method of calculating such rate or rates; (5) the date or dates from which interest, if any, will accrue or the method by which such date or dates will be determined; (6) the date or dates on which interest, if any, will be payable and the record date or dates therefor; (7) the place or places where principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Debt Securities will be payable; (8) the right, if any, of the Company to defer payment of interest on Debt Securities and the maximum length of any such deferral period; (9) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currencies (including currency unit or units) in which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such Debt Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company; (10) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase such Debt Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or upon the happening of a specified event and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which, such Debt Securities shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligations; (11) the denominations in which such Debt Securities are authorized to be issued; (12) the currency or currency unit for which Debt Securities may be purchased or in which Debt Securities may be denominated and/or the currency or currencies (including currency unit or units) in which principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if
7

any, on such Debt Securities will be payable and whether the Company or the holders of any such Debt Securities may elect to receive payments in respect of such Debt Securities in a currency or currency unit other than that in which such Debt Securities are stated to be payable; (13) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of such Debt Securities which will be payable upon declaration of the acceleration of the maturity thereof or the method by which such portion shall be determined; (14) the person to whom any interest on any such Debt Security shall be payable if other than the person in whose name such Debt Security is registered on the applicable record date; (15) any addition to, or modification or deletion of, any Event of Default or any covenant of the Company specified in the Indenture with respect to such Debt Securities; (16) the application, if any, of such means of defeasance or covenant defeasance as may be specified for such Debt Securities;
(17) whether such Debt Securities are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more temporary or permanent global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary for such global security or securities; (18) any Federal income tax considerations applicable to holders of the Debt Securities; and (19) any other special terms pertaining to such Debt Securities. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Debt Securities will not be listed on any securities exchange. (Section 3.1.)
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Debt Securities will be issued in fully-registered form without coupons. Where Debt Securities of any series are issued in bearer form, the special restrictions and considerations, including special offering restrictions and special Federal income tax considerations, applicable to any such Debt Securities and to payment on and transfer and exchange of such Debt Securities will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Bearer Debt Securities will be transferable by delivery. (Section 3.5.)
Debt Securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. Certain Federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any such Debt Securities, or to Debt Securities issued at par that are treated as having been issued at a discount, will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
If the purchase price of any of the Debt Securities is payable in one or more foreign currencies or currency units or if any Debt Securities are denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units or if the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Debt Securities is payable in one or more foreign currencies or currency units, or by reference to commodity prices, equity indices or other factors, the restrictions, elections, certain Federal income tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to such issue of Debt Securities and such foreign currency or currency units or commodity prices, equity indices or other factors will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. In general, holders of such series of Debt Securities may receive a principal amount on any principal payment date, or a payment of premium, if any, on any premium interest payment date or a payment of interest on any interest payment date, that is greater than or less than the amount of principal, premium, if any, or interest otherwise payable on such dates, depending on the value on such dates of the applicable currency, commodity, equity index or other factor.
PAYMENT, REGISTRATION, TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payments in respect of the Debt Securities will be made in the designated currency at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose as the Company may designate from time to time, except that, at the option of the Company, interest payments, if any, on Debt Securities in registered form may be made (i) by checks mailed to the holders of Debt Securities entitled thereto at their registered addresses or (ii) by wire transfer to an account maintained by the person entitled thereto as specified in the Register. (Sections 3.7(a) and 9.2.) Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of any installment of interest on Debt Securities in registered form will be made to the person in whose name such Debt Security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest. (Section 3.7(a).)
8

Payment in respect of Debt Securities in bearer form will be made in the currency and in the manner designated in the Prospectus Supplement, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at such paying agencies outside the United States as the Company may appoint from time to time. The paying agents outside the United States initially appointed by the Company for a series of Debt Securities will be named in the Prospectus Supplement. The Company may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agents, except that, if Debt Securities of a series are issuable as Registered Securities, the Company will be required to maintain at least one paying agent in each Place of Payment for such series and, if Debt Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company will be required to maintain a paying agent in a Place of Payment outside the United States where Debt Securities of such series and any coupons appertaining thereto may be presented and surrendered for payment. (Section 9.2.)
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Debt Securities in registered form will be transferable or exchangeable at the agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as designated by the Company from time to time. (Sections 3.5 and 9.2.) Debt Securities may be transferred or exchanged without service charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith. (Section 3.5.)
GLOBAL DEBT SECURITIES
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Debt Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more fully registered global securities (a "Registered Global Security") that will be deposited with a depository (the "Depository") or with a nominee for the Depository identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. In such a case, one or more Registered Global Securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Debt Securities of the series to be represented by such Registered Global Security or Securities. (Section 3.3.) Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities in definitive certificated form, a Registered Global Security may not be registered for transfer or exchange except as a whole by the Depository for such Registered Global Security to a nominee of such Depository or by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such Depository or by such Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository for such series or a nominee of such successor Depository and except in the circumstances described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. (Section 3.5.)
The specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to any portion of a series of Debt Securities to be represented by a Registered Global Security will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company expects that the following provisions will apply to such depository arrangements.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a Registered Global Security will be limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants (as such term is defined below). Upon the issuance of any Registered Global Security, and the deposit of such Registered Global Security with or on behalf of the Depository for such Registered Global Security, the Depository will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the Debt Securities represented by such Registered Global Security to the accounts of institutions ("participants") that have accounts with the Depository or its nominee. The accounts to be credited will be designated by the underwriters or agents engaging in the distribution of such Debt Securities or by the Company, if such Debt Securities are offered and sold directly by the Company. Ownership of beneficial interests by participants in such Registered Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of such beneficial interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depository for such Registered Global Security or by its nominee. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Registered Global Security by persons that hold through participants will be shown on, and the transfer of such beneficial interests within such 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 certificated form. The foregoing limitations and such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in such Registered Global Security.
9

So long as the Depository for a Registered Global Security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such Registered Global Security, such Depository or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Debt Securities represented by such Registered Global Security for all purposes under the applicable Indenture. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and except as specified below, owners of beneficial interests in such Registered Global Security will not be entitled to have Debt Securities of the series represented by such Registered Global Security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of Debt Securities of such series in certificated form and will not be considered the holders thereof for any purposes under the relevant Indenture. (Section 3.8.) Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in such Registered Global Security must rely on the procedures of the Depository and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the relevant Indenture. The Depository may grant proxies and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a holder is entitled to give or take under the relevant Indenture. The Company understands that, under existing industry practices, if the Company requests any action of holders or if any owner of a beneficial interest in such Registered Global Security desires to give any notice or take any action which a holder is entitled to give or take under the relevant Indenture, the Depository would authorize the participants to give such notice or take such action, and such participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through such participants to give such notice or take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payments with respect to principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on Debt Securities represented by a Registered Global Security registered in the name of a Depository or its nominee will be made to such Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of such Registered Global Security.
The Company expects that the Depository for any Debt Securities represented by a Registered Global Security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest, will immediately credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such Registered Global Security as shown on the records of such Depository. The Company also expects that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in such Registered Global Security held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in "street names," and will be the responsibility of such participants. None of the Company, the respective Trustees or any agent of the Company or the respective Trustees shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests of a Registered Global Security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.
(Section 3.8.)
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if the Depository for any Debt Securities represented by a Registered Global Security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as Depository or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a duly registered successor Depository is not appointed by the Company within 90 days, the Company will issue such Debt Securities in definitive certificated form in exchange for such Registered Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine not to have any of the Debt Securities of a series represented by one or more Registered Global Securities and, in such event, will issue Debt Securities of such series in definitive certificated form in exchange for all of the Registered Global Security or Securities representing such Debt Securities. (Section 3.5.)
The Debt Securities of a series may also be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more bearer global securities (a "Bearer Global Security") that will be deposited with a depository, or with a nominee for such depository, identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Any such Bearer Global Security may be issued in temporary or permanent form. (Section 3.4.) The specific terms and procedures, including the specific terms of the depository arrangement, with respect to any portion of a series of Debt Securities to be represented by one or more Bearer Global Securities will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
10

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE BY THE COMPANY
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or sell its assets substantially as an entirety, unless: (i) the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the corporation which acquires its assets is organized in the United States; (ii) the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or which acquires the Company's assets substantially as an entirety expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Company under each Indenture; (iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have happened and be continuing, and (iv) if, as a result of such transaction, properties or assets of the Company would become subject to an encumbrance which would not be permitted by the terms of any series of Debt Securities, the Company or the successor corporation, as the case may be, shall take such steps as are necessary to secure such Debt Securities equally and ratably with all indebtedness secured thereunder. Upon any such consolidation, merger or sale, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company is merged or to which such sale is made, shall succeed to, and be substituted for the Company under each Indenture. (Section 7.1.)
EVENTS OF DEFAULT, NOTICE AND CERTAIN RIGHTS ON DEFAULT
Each Indenture provides that, if an Event of Default specified therein occurs with respect to the Debt Securities of any series and is continuing, the Trustee for such series or the holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of all of the outstanding Debt Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company (and to the Trustee for such series, if notice is given by such holders of Debt Securities), may declare the principal of (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount specified in the Prospectus Supplement) and accrued interest on all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable (provided, with respect to any Debt Securities issued under the Subordinated Indenture, that the payment of principal and interest on such Debt Securities shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in Article 12 of the Subordinated Indenture). (Section 5.2.)
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Events of Default with respect to Debt Securities of any series are defined in each Indenture as being: (a) default for 30 days in payment of any interest on any Debt Security of that series or any coupon appertaining thereto or any additional amount payable with respect to Debt Securities of such series as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement when due; (b) default in payment of principal, or premium, if any, at maturity or on redemption or otherwise, or in the making of a mandatory sinking fund payment of any Debt Securities of that series when due; (c) default for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee for such series, or by the holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series then outstanding, in the performance of any other agreement in the Debt Securities of that series, in the Indenture or in any supplemental indenture or board resolution referred to therein under which the Debt Securities of that series may have been issued; (d) default resulting in acceleration of other indebtedness of the Company for borrowed money where the aggregate principal amount so accelerated exceeds $25 million and such acceleration is not rescinded or annulled within 30 days after the written notice thereof to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series then outstanding, provided that such Event of Default will be remedied, cured or waived if the default that resulted in the acceleration of such other indebtedness is remedied, cured or waived; and (e) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company. (Section 5.1.) The definition of "Event of Default" in each Indenture specifically excludes a default under a secured debt under which the obligee has recourse (exclusive of recourse for ancillary matters such as environmental indemnities, misapplication of funds, costs of enforcement, etc.) only to the collateral pledged for repayment, and where the fair market value of such collateral does not exceed two percent of Total Assets (as defined in the Indenture) at the time of the default. Events of Default with respect to a specified series of Debt Securities may be added to the Indenture and, if so added, will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. (Sections 3.1 and 5.1(7).)
Each Indenture provides that the Trustee will, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Default with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, give to the holders of the Debt Securities of that series notice of all Defaults known to it unless such Default shall have been cured or waived; provided that except in the case of
11

a Default in payment on the Debt Securities of that series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding such notice is in the interests of the holders of the Debt Securities of that series. (Section 6.6.) "Default" means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both, would be, an Event of Default. (Section 1.1.)
Each Indenture provides that the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of each series affected (with each such series voting as a class) may, subject to certain limited conditions, direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee for such series, or exercising any trust or power conferred on such Trustee. (Section 5.8.)
Each Indenture includes a covenant that the Company will file annually with the Trustee a certificate as to the Company's compliance with all conditions and covenants of such Indenture. (Section 9.5.)
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any series of Debt Securities by notice to the Trustee for such series may waive, on behalf of the holders of all Debt Securities of such series, any past Default or Event of Default with respect to that series and its consequences except a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Debt Security, and except in respect of an Event of Default resulting from the breach of a covenant or provision of either Indenture which, pursuant to the applicable Indenture, cannot be amended or modified without the consent of the holders of each outstanding Debt Security of such series affected. (Section 5.7.)
OPTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENTS
If provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company shall have the right at any time and from time to time during the term of the series of Debt Securities to defer the payment of interest for such number of consecutive interest payment periods as may be specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement (each, an "Extension Period"), subject to the terms, conditions and covenants, if any, specified in such Prospectus Supplement, provided that such Extension Period may not extend beyond the stated maturity of the Debt Securities. Certain material United States Federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any such Debt Securities will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, at the end of such Extension Period, the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid together with interest thereon compounded semiannually at the rate specified for the Debt Securities to the extent permitted by applicable law ("Compound Interest"); provided, that during any such Extension Period, (a) the Company shall not declare or pay dividends on, make distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock (other than (i) purchases or acquisitions of capital stock of the Company in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any employee or agent benefit plans or the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations pursuant to any contract or security outstanding on the date of such event requiring the Company to purchase capital stock of the Company, (ii) as a result of a reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for another class or series of the Company's capital stock, (iii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion of exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being conversed or exchanged, (iv) dividends or distributions in capital stock of the Company (or rights to acquire capital stock) or repurchases or redemptions of capital stock solely from the issuance or exchange of capital stock or (v) redemptions or repurchases of any rights outstanding under a shareholder rights plan), (b) the Company shall not make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by the Company that rank junior to the Debt Securities, and (c) the Company shall not make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing (other than payments pursuant to the Trust Guarantee or the Common Guarantee (as defined herein)). Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period; provided, however, that, such Extension Period, including all such previous and further extensions, may not extend beyond the maturity of the Debt Securities. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the terms set forth in this section. No
12

interest during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, shall be due and payable, but the Company may prepay at any time all or any portion of the interest accrued during an Extension Period. The Company has no present intention of exercising its right to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Debt Securities. If the Institutional Trustee shall be the sole holder of the Debt Securities, the Company shall give the Regular Trustees and the Institutional Trustee notice of its selection of such Extension Period one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the date distributions on the Preferred Securities are payable or (ii) the date the Regular Trustees are required to give notice to the New York Stock Exchange (or other applicable self-regulatory organization) or to holders of the Preferred Securities of the record or payment date of such distribution. The Regular Trustees shall give notice of the Company's selection of such Extension Period to the holders of the Preferred Securities. If the Institutional Trustee shall not be the sole holder of the Debt Securities, the Company shall give the holders of the Debt Securities notice of its selection of such Extension Period ten Business Days prior to the earlier of (i) the Interest Payment Date or (ii) the date upon which the Company is required to give notice to the New York Stock Exchange (or other applicable self-regulatory organization) or to holders of the Debt Securities of the record or payment date of such related interest payment.
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURES
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, each Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee to enter into one or more supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of any of the Debt Securities in order (i) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company and the assumption of the covenants of the Company by a successor to the Company; (ii) to add to the covenants of the Company or surrender any right or power of the Company; (iii) to add additional Events of Default with respect to any series of Debt Securities; (iv) to add or change any provisions to such extent as necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities in bearer form; (v) to change or eliminate any provision affecting only Debt Securities not yet issued; (vi) to secure the Debt Securities; (vii) to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities; (viii) to evidence and provide for successor Trustees; (ix) if allowed without penalty under applicable laws and regulations, to permit payment in respect of Debt Securities in bearer form in the United States; (x) to correct any defect or supplement any inconsistent provisions or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under such Indenture, provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of Debt Securities of any series; or (xi) to cure any ambiguity or correct any mistake. The Subordinated Indenture also permits the Company and the Trustee thereunder to enter into such supplemental indentures to modify the subordination provisions contained in the Subordinated Debenture except in a manner adverse to any outstanding Debt Securities. (Section 8.1.)
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, each Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities affected by such supplemental indenture (with the Debt Securities of each series voting as a class), to execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing or eliminating any of the provisions of such Indenture or any supplemental indenture or modifying the rights of the holders of Debt Securities of such series, except that, without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security so affected, no such supplemental indenture may: (i) change the time for payment of principal or premium, if any, or interest on any Debt Security; (ii) reduce the principal of, or any installment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any Debt Security, or change the manner in which the amount of any of the foregoing is determined; (iii) reduce the amount of premium, if any, payable upon the redemption of any Debt Security; (iv) reduce the amount of principal payable upon acceleration of the maturity of any Original Issue Discount or Index Security; (v) change the currency or currency unit in which any Debt Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable; (vi) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any Debt Security;
(vii) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities affected thereby the consent of whose holders is required for modification or amendment of such Indenture or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults; (viii) change the obligation of the Company to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes specified in such Indenture; (ix) modify the provisions relating to
13

the subordination of outstanding Debt Securities of any series in a manner adverse to the holders thereof; or (x) modify the provisions relating to waiver of certain defaults or any of the foregoing provisions. (Section 8.2.)
SUBORDINATION UNDER THE SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
The Subordinated Indenture provides that any Subordinated Debt Securities issued thereunder are subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness to the extent provided in the Subordinated Indenture. (Section 12.1 of the Subordinated Indenture.) The Subordinated Indenture defines the term "Senior Indebtedness" as: (i) all indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding on the date of the Subordinated Indenture or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, which is for money borrowed, or evidenced by a note or similar instrument given in connection with the acquisition of any business, properties or assets, including securities; (ii) any indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the preceding clause (i) for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as guarantor or otherwise; and (iii) amendments, renewals, extensions and refundings of any such indebtedness. The Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the Senior Indebtedness or extension or renewal of the Senior Indebtedness. Senior Indebtedness does not include (A) any indebtedness of the Company to any of its subsidiaries, (B) indebtedness incurred for the purchase of goods or materials or for services obtained in the ordinary course of business and (C) any indebtedness which by its terms is expressly made pari passu with or subordinated to the Subordinated Debt Securities. (Section 12.2 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
If (i) the Company defaults in the payment of any principal, or premium, if any, or interest on any Senior Indebtedness when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or declaration or otherwise or (ii) an event of default occurs with respect to any Senior Indebtedness permitting the holders thereof to accelerate the maturity thereof and written notice of such event of default (requesting that payments on Subordinated Debt Securities cease) is given to the Company by the holders of Senior Indebtedness, then unless and until such default in payment or event of default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist, no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property or securities, by set-off or otherwise) shall be made or agreed to be made on account of the Subordinated Debt Securities or interest thereon or in respect of any repayment, redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of Subordinated Debt Securities.
(Section 12.4 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
In the event of (i) any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, readjustment, composition or other similar proceeding relating to the Company, its creditors or its property, (ii) any proceeding for the liquidation, dissolution or other winding-up of the Company, voluntary or involuntary, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings,
(iii) any assignment by the Company for the benefit of creditors or (iv) any other marshalling of the assets of the Company, all Senior Indebtedness (including, without limitation, interest accruing after the commencement of any such proceeding, assignment or marshalling of assets) shall first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made by the Company on account of Subordinated Debt Securities. In any such event, any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by Subordinated Debt Securities, to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), which would otherwise (but for the subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of Subordinated Debt Securities (including any such payment or distribution which may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of the Company being subordinated to the payment of Subordinated Debt Securities) shall be paid or delivered directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, or to their representative or trustee, in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full. (Section 12.3 of the Subordinated Indenture.) No present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness shall be
14

prejudiced in the right to enforce subordination of the indebtedness evidenced by Subordinated Debt Securities by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company. (Section 12.9 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
Senior Indebtedness shall not be deemed to have been paid in full unless the holders thereof shall have received cash, securities or other property equal to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness then outstanding. Upon the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the holders of Subordinated Debt Securities shall be subrogated to all the rights of any holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive any further payments or distributions applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until all Subordinated Debt Securities shall have been paid in full, and such payments or distributions received by any holder of Subordinated Debt Securities, by reason of such subrogation, of cash, securities or other property which otherwise would be paid or distributed to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, shall, as between the Company and its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, on the one hand, and the holders of Subordinated Debt Securities, on the other, be deemed to be a payment by the Company on account of Senior Indebtedness, and not on account of Subordinated Debt Securities. (Section 12.7 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
The Subordinated Indenture provides that the foregoing subordination provisions, insofar as they relate to any particular issue of Subordinated Debt Securities, may be changed prior to such issuance. Any such change would be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to such Subordinated Debt Securities.
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
If indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company may elect either (i) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the Debt Securities of or within any series (except as otherwise provided in the relevant Indenture) ("defeasance") or (ii) to be released from its obligations with respect to certain covenants applicable to the Debt Securities of or within any series ("covenant defeasance"), upon the deposit with the relevant Trustee (or other qualifying trustee), in trust for such purpose, of money and/or Government Obligations which through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient, without reinvestment, to pay the principal of and any premium or interest on such Debt Securities to Maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon. As a condition to defeasance or covenant defeasance, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Debt Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such Opinion of Counsel, in the case of defeasance under clause (i) above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable Federal income tax law occurring after the date of the relevant Indenture. (Article 4.) If indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, in addition to obligations of the United States or an agency or instrumentality thereof, Government Obligations may include obligations of the government or an agency or instrumentality of the government issuing the currency or currency unit in which Debt Securities of such series are payable. (Section 3.1.)
In addition, with respect to the Subordinated Indenture, in order to be discharged no event or condition shall exist that, pursuant to certain provisions described under "-- Subordination under the Subordinated Indenture" above, would prevent the Company from making payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on Subordinated Debt Securities at the date of the irrevocable deposit referred to above. (Section 4.6(j) of the Subordinated Indenture.)
The Company may exercise its defeasance option with respect to such Debt Securities notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. If the Company exercises its defeasance option, payment of such Debt Securities may not be accelerated because of a Default or an Event of Default. (Section 4.4.) If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of such Debt Securities may not be accelerated by reason of a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the covenants to which such covenant defeasance is applicable. However, if such acceleration were to occur by reason of another Event of Default, the realizable
15

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 Debt Securities, in that the required deposit in the defeasance trust is based upon scheduled cash flow rather than market value, which will vary depending upon interest rates and other factors.
THE TRUSTEES
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, LTCB Trust Company will be the Trustee under the Senior Indenture, and State Street Bank and Trust Company will be the Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture. The Company may also maintain banking and other commercial relationships with each of the Trustees and their affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
At May 21, 1998 the authorized capital stock of the Company was 1,020,000,000 shares, consisting of:
(a) 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, of which 1,889,400 shares of Preferred Redeemable Increased Dividend Equity Securities, 7% PRIDES ("PRIDES"), were outstanding; and
(b) 1,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 187,126,301 shares were outstanding.
In general, the classes of authorized capital stock are afforded preferences with respect to dividends and liquidation rights in the order listed above. The Board of Directors of the Company is empowered, without approval of the shareholders, to cause the Preferred Stock to be issued in one or more series, with the numbers of shares of each series and the rights, preferences and limitations of each series to be determined by it including, without limitation, the dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption rights and liquidation preferences, if any, of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock (or of the entire class of Preferred Stock if none of such shares have been issued), the number of shares constituting each such series and the terms and conditions of the issue thereof. The descriptions set forth below do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (the "Articles of Incorporation").
The Prospectus Supplement relating to an offering of Common Stock will describe terms relevant thereto, including the number of shares offered, the initial offering price, market price and dividend information.
PREFERRED STOCK
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the following terms of any Preferred Stock in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered (to the extent applicable to such Preferred Stock): (i) the specific designation, number of shares, seniority and purchase price; (ii) any liquidation preference per share; (iii) any date of maturity; (iv) any redemption, repayment or sinking fund provisions; (v) any dividend rate or rates and the dates on which any such dividends will be payable (or the method by which such rates or dates will be determined); (vi) any voting rights; (vii) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which such Preferred Stock is denominated and/or in which payments will or may be payable; (viii) the method by which amounts in respect of such Preferred Stock may be calculated and any commodities, currencies or indices, or value, rate or price, relevant to such calculation; (ix) whether the Preferred Stock is convertible or exchangeable and, if so, the securities or rights into which such Preferred Stock is convertible or exchangeable (which may include other Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Common Stock or other securities or rights of the Company (including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies or indices) or a combination of the foregoing), and the terms and conditions upon which such conversions or exchanges will be effected, including the initial conversion or exchange prices or rates, the conversion or exchange period and any other related provisions; (x) the place or places where dividends and other payments on the Preferred Stock will be payable; and (xi) any additional voting, dividend, liquidation, redemption and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions.
16

As described under "Description of Depositary Shares", the Company may, at its option, elect to offer Depositary Shares evidenced by depositary receipts ("Depositary Receipts"), each representing an interest (to be specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular series of the Preferred Stock) in a share of the particular series of the Preferred Stock issued and deposited with a Preferred Stock Depositary (as defined herein).
All shares of Preferred Stock offered hereby, or issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of Securities, will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable.
COMMON STOCK
Dividends. Except as provided below, holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or property of the Company, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of assets or funds of the Company legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in all such dividends and other distributions (subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock).
Voting Rights. At every meeting of shareholders, every holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share. Subject to any voting rights which may be granted to holders of Preferred Stock any action submitted to shareholders is approved if the number of votes cast in favor of such action exceeds the number of votes against, except where other provision is made by law and subject to applicable quorum requirements.
Liquidation Rights. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the business of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary (any such event, a "Liquidation"), the holders of Common Stock are entitled to share equally in the assets available for distribution after payment of all liabilities and provision for the liquidation preference of any shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding.
Miscellaneous. The holders of Common Stock have no preemptive rights, cumulative voting rights, subscription rights, or conversion rights and the Common Stock is not subject to redemption.
The transfer agent and registrar with respect to the Common Stock and the PRIDES is First Union National Bank.
All shares of Common Stock offered hereby, or issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of Securities, will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable. The Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CNC".
PRIDES
General. The PRIDES are shares of convertible preferred stock and rank prior to the Common Stock as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon liquidation. The shares of PRIDES mandatorily convert into shares of Common Stock on February 1, 2000, (the "Mandatory Conversion Date"), and the Company has the option to redeem the shares of PRIDES, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time on or after February 1, 1999 and prior to the Mandatory Conversion Date pursuant to the terms described below and payable in shares of Common Stock. In addition, the shares of PRIDES are convertible into shares of Common Stock at the option of the holder at any time prior to the Mandatory Conversion Date as set forth below.
Dividends. Holders of shares of PRIDES are entitled to receive annual cumulative dividends at a rate per annum of 7% of the stated liquidation preference (equivalent to $4.279 per each share of PRIDES) payable quarterly in arrears on each February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1.
Mandatory Conversion. On the Mandatory Conversion Date, unless previously redeemed or converted, each outstanding share of PRIDES will mandatorily convert into (i) four shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment in certain events, and (ii) the right to receive cash in an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (other than previously declared dividends payable to a holder of record as of a prior date).
Optional Redemption. Shares of PRIDES are not redeemable prior to February 1, 1999. At any time and from time to time on or after February 1, 1999 and ending immediately prior to the Mandatory Conversion Date, the Company may redeem any or all of the outstanding shares of PRIDES. Upon any such
17

redemption, each holder will receive, in exchange for each share of PRIDES, the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Call Price (which is the sum of
(i) $62.195, declining after February 1, 1999 to $61.125 until the Mandatory Conversation Date and (ii) all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (other than previously declared dividends payable to a holder of record as of a prior date)) divided by the current market price on the applicable date of determination, but in no event less than 3.42 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment. The number of shares of Common Stock to be delivered in payment of the applicable Call Price will be determined on the basis of the current market price of the Common Stock prior to the announcement of the redemption.
Conversion at the Option of the Holder. At any time prior to the Mandatory Conversion Date, unless previously redeemed, each share of PRIDES is convertible at the option of the holder thereof into 3.42 shares of Common Stock (the "Optional Conversion Rate"), equivalent to the conversion price of $17.8728 per share of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as described herein. The right of holders to convert shares of PRIDES called for redemption will terminate immediately prior to the close of business on the redemption date.
Voting Rights. The holders of shares of PRIDES have the right with the holders of Common Stock to vote in the election of directors and upon each other matter coming before any meeting of the holders of Common Stock on the basis of 4/5 of one vote for each share of PRIDES. On such matters, the holders of shares of PRIDES and the holders of Common Stock vote together as one class except as otherwise provided by law or the Articles of Incorporation. In addition, (i) whenever dividends on the shares of PRIDES or any other series of Preferred Stock with like voting rights are in arrears and unpaid for six quarterly dividend periods, and in certain other circumstances, the holders of the shares of PRIDES (voting separately as a class with the holders of all other series of Preferred Stock with like voting rights that are exercisable) will be entitled to vote, on the basis of one vote for each share of PRIDES, for the election of two directors of the Company, such directors to be in addition to the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors immediately prior to the accrual of such right, and (ii) the holders of the shares of PRIDES may have voting rights with respect to certain alterations of the Articles of Incorporation and certain other matters, voting on the same basis or separately as a series.
Liquidation Preference and Ranking. The shares of PRIDES rank prior to the Common Stock as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon liquidation. The liquidation preference of each share of PRIDES is an amount equal to the sum of (i) $61.125 per share and (ii) all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon.
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS OF CONSECO
Certain provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Company (the "Bylaws") may make it more difficult to effect a change in control of the Company if the Board of Directors determines that such action would not be in the best interests of the shareholders. It could be argued, contrary to the belief of the Board of Directors, that such provisions are not in the best interests of the shareholders to the extent that they will have the effect of tending to discourage possible takeover bids, which might be at prices involving a premium over then recent market quotations for the Common Stock. The most important of those provisions are described below.
The Articles of Incorporation authorize the establishment of a classified Board of Directors pursuant to the Bylaws. The Bylaws, in turn, provide that the Directors serve staggered three-year terms, with the members of only one class being elected in any year.
A classified Board of Directors may increase the difficulty of removing incumbent directors, providing such directors with enhanced ability to retain their positions. A classified Board of Directors may also make the acquisition of control of the Company by a third party by means of a proxy contest more difficult. In addition, the classification may make it more difficult to replace a majority of directors for business reasons unrelated to a change in control.
18

The Articles of Incorporation provide that holders of the Company's voting stock shall not be entitled to vote on certain business transactions (defined to include, among other things, certain mergers, consolidations, sales, leases, transfers or other dispositions of a substantial part of the Company's assets) with certain related persons (which includes persons beneficially owning more than 10% of the Company's outstanding voting stock), nor may such business combination transactions be effected, unless (i) the relevant business combination shall have been approved by two-thirds of the continuing directors or (ii) the aggregate amount of the cash and the fair value of any consideration other than cash to be received by any holder of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock in the business combination for each such share of Common Stock or Preferred Stock shall be at least equal to the highest per share price paid by the related person in order to acquire any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, beneficially owned by such related person.
As discussed above, Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series with such rights, preferences, limitations and restrictions as may be determined by the Board of Directors. The issuance of Preferred Stock could be used, under certain circumstances, as a method of delaying or preventing a change of control of the Company and could have a detrimental effect on the rights of holders of Common Stock, including loss of voting control.
The provisions of the Articles of Incorporation regarding the classified Board of Directors and certain business combination transactions may not be amended without the affirmative approval of holders of not less than 80% of the outstanding voting stock of the Company.
The Bylaws may be amended by majority vote of the Board of Directors.
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF CORPORATE AND INSURANCE LAWS
In addition to the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, certain provisions of Indiana law may delay, deter or prevent a merger, tender offer or other takeover attempt of the Company.
Under the Indiana Business Corporation Law (the "IBCL"), a director may, in considering the best interests of a corporation, consider the effects of any action on shareholders, employees, suppliers and customers of the corporation, on communities in which offices or other facilities of the corporation are located, and any other factors the director considers pertinent.
The IBCL provides that no business combination (defined to include certain mergers, sales of assets, sales of 5% or more of outstanding stock, loans, recapitalizations or liquidations or dissolutions) involving a corporation and an interested shareholder (defined to include any holder of 10% or more of such corporation's voting stock) may be entered into unless (1) it has been approved by the board of directors of the corporation or (2) (a) five years have expired since the acquisition of shares of the corporation by the interested shareholder, (b) all requirements of the corporation's articles of incorporation relating to business combinations have been satisfied and (c) either (i) a majority of shareholders of the corporation (excluding the interested shareholder) approve the business combination or (ii) all shareholders are paid fair value (as defined in the statute) for their stock. However, such law does not restrict any offer to purchase all of a corporation's shares.
The IBCL also provides that when a target corporation (such as the Company), incorporated in Indiana and having its principal place of business, principal office or substantial assets in Indiana, has a certain threshold of ownership by Indiana residents, any acquisition which, together with its previous holdings, gives the acquiror at least 20% of the target's voting stock triggers a shareholder approval mechanism. If the acquiror files a statutorily required disclosure statement, the target's management has 50 days within which to hold a special meeting of shareholders at which all disinterested shareholders of the target (those not affiliated with the acquiror or any officer or inside director of the target) consider and vote upon whether the acquiror shall have voting rights with respect to the shares of the target held by it. Without shareholder approval, the shares acquired by the acquiror have no voting rights. If the acquiror fails to file the statutorily required disclosure statement, the target can redeem the acquiror's shares at a price to be determined according to
19

procedures devised by the target. In order for these provisions of the IBCL not to apply to a particular Indiana company, the company must affirmatively so provide in its articles of incorporation or bylaws.
In addition, the insurance laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which the Company's insurance subsidiaries do business may impede or delay a business combination involving the Company.
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
The description set forth below of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement (as defined below) and of the Depositary Shares and Depositary Receipts summarizes the material terms of the Deposit Agreement and of the Depositary Shares and Depositary Receipts and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Deposit Agreement and form of Depositary Receipts relating to each series of the Preferred Stock, as well as the Articles of Incorporation or any required amendment thereto describing the applicable series of Preferred Stock.
GENERAL
The Company may, as its option, elect to have shares of Preferred Stock be represented by Depositary Shares. The shares of any series of the Preferred Stock underlying the Depositary Shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement (the "Deposit Agreement") to be entered into by the Company and a bank or trust company selected by the Company (the "Preferred Stock Depositary"). The Prospectus Supplement relating to a series of Depositary Shares will set forth the name and address of the Preferred Stock Depositary. Subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, each owner of a Depositary Share will be entitled, proportionately, to all the rights, preferences and privileges of the Preferred Stock represented thereby (including dividend, voting, redemption, conversion, exchange and liquidation rights).
The Depositary Shares will be evidenced by Depositary Receipts issued pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, each of which will represent the fractional interest in the number of shares of a particular series of the Preferred Stock described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS
The Preferred Stock Depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions in respect of the series of Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary Shares to the record holders of Depositary Receipts in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of Depositary Shares owned by such holders. The Depositary, however, will distribute only such amount as can be distributed without attributing to any Depositary Share a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributed will be added to and treated as part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution to record holders of Depositary Receipts then outstanding.
In the event of a distribution other than in cash in respect of the Preferred Stock, the Preferred Stock Depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of Depositary Receipts in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of Depositary Shares owned by such holders, unless the Preferred Stock Depositary determines (after consultation with the Company) that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the Preferred Stock Depositary may, with the approval of the Company, adopt such method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including a public or private sale, of such property, and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.
The amount so distributed to record holders of Depositary Receipts in any of the foregoing cases will be reduced by any amount required to be withheld by the Company or the Preferred Stock Depositary on account of taxes.
CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE
If any series of Preferred Stock underlying the Depositary Shares is subject to provisions relating to its conversion or exchange, as set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating thereto, each record
20

holder of Depositary Receipts will have the right or obligation to convert or exchange the Depositary Shares represented by such Depositary Receipts pursuant to the terms thereof.
REDEMPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
If any series of Preferred Stock underlying the Depositary Shares is subject to redemption, the Depositary Shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the Preferred Stock Depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of the Preferred Stock held by the Preferred Stock Depositary. Whenever the Company redeems Preferred Stock from the Preferred Stock Depositary, the Preferred Stock Depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date a proportionate number of Depositary Shares representing the shares of Preferred Stock that were redeemed. If less than all the Depositary Shares are to be redeemed, the Depositary Shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as may be determined by the Company.
After the date fixed for redemption, the Depositary Shares so called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the Depositary Shares will cease, except the right to receive the redemption price upon such redemption. Any funds deposited by the Company with the Preferred Stock Depositary for any Depositary Shares which the holders thereof fail to redeem shall be returned to the Company after a period of two years from the date such funds are so deposited.
VOTING
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of any shares of Preferred Stock underlying the Depositary Shares are entitled to vote, the Preferred Stock Depositary will mail the information contained in such notice to the record holders of the Depositary Receipts. Each record holder of such Depositary Receipts on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the Preferred Stock) will be entitled to instruct the Preferred Stock Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of shares of Preferred Stock underlying such holder's Depositary Shares. The Preferred Stock Depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the number of shares of Preferred Stock underlying such Depositary Shares in accordance with such instructions, and the Company will agree to take all reasonable action which may be deemed necessary by the Preferred Stock Depositary in order to enable the Preferred Stock Depositary to do so. The Preferred Stock Depositary will abstain from voting any of the Preferred Stock to the extent it does not receive specific written instructions from holders of Depositary Receipts representing such Preferred Stock.
RECORD DATE
Whenever (i) any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable, any distribution other than cash shall be made, or any rights, preferences or privileges shall be offered with respect to the Preferred Stock, or (ii) the Preferred Stock Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting at which holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote or of which holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to notice, or of the mandatory conversion of, or any election on the part of the Company to call for the redemption of, any Preferred Stock, the Preferred Stock Depositary shall in each such instance fix a record date (which shall be the same as the record date for the Preferred Stock) for the determination of the holders of Depositary Receipts (x) that shall be entitled to receive such dividend, distribution, rights, preferences or privileges or the net proceeds of the sale thereof or (y) that shall be entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting or to receive notice of such meeting or of such redemption or conversion, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.
WITHDRAWAL OF PREFERRED STOCK
Upon surrender of Depositary Receipts at the principal office of the Preferred Stock Depositary, upon payment of any unpaid amount due the Preferred Stock Depositary, and subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the owner of the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby is entitled to delivery of the number of whole shares of Preferred Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by such Depositary Shares. Partial shares of Preferred Stock will not be issued. If the Depositary Receipts delivered by the holder
21

evidence a number of Depositary Shares in excess of the number of Depositary Shares representing the number of whole shares of Preferred Stock to be withdrawn, the Preferred Stock Depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new Depositary Receipt evidencing such excess number of Depositary Shares. Holders of Preferred Stock thus withdrawn will not thereafter be entitled to deposit such shares under the Deposit Agreement or to receive Depositary Receipts evidencing Depositary Shares therefor.
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
The Deposit Agreement will provide that the form of Depositary Receipt and any provision of the Deposit Agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Preferred Stock Depositary. However, any amendment which imposes or increases any fees, taxes or other charges payable by the holders of Depositary Receipts (other than taxes and other governmental charges, fees and other expenses payable by such holders as stated under "Charges of Preferred Stock Depositary"), or which otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of holders of Depositary Receipts, will not take effect as to outstanding Depositary Receipts until the expiration of 90 days after notice of such amendment has been mailed to the record holders of outstanding Depositary Receipts.
Whenever so directed by the Company, the Preferred Stock Depositary will terminate the Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the record holders of all Depositary Receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The Preferred Stock Depositary may likewise terminate the Deposit Agreement if at any time 45 days shall have expired after the Preferred Stock Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment. If any Depositary Receipts remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Preferred Stock Depositary thereafter will discontinue the transfer of Depositary Receipts, will suspend the distribution of dividends to the holders thereof, and will not give any further notices (other than notice of such termination) or perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement except as provided below and except that the Preferred Stock Depositary will continue (i) to collect dividends on the Preferred Stock and any other distributions with respect thereto and (ii) to deliver the Preferred Stock together with such dividends and distributions and the net proceeds of any sales of rights, preferences, privileges or other property, without liability for interest thereon, in exchange for Depositary Receipts surrendered. At any time after the expiration of two years from the date of termination, the Preferred Stock Depositary may sell the Preferred Stock then held by it at public or private sales, at such place or places and upon such terms as it deems proper, and may thereafter hold the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any money and other property then held by it, without liability for interest thereon, for the pro rata benefit of the holders of Depositary Receipts which have not been surrendered.
CHARGES OF PREFERRED STOCK DEPOSITARY
The Company will pay all charges of the Preferred Stock Depositary including charges in connection with the initial deposit of the Preferred Stock, the initial issuance of the Depositary Receipts, the distribution of information to the holders of Depositary Receipts with respect to matters on which Preferred Stock is entitled to vote, withdrawals of the Preferred Stock by the holders of Depositary Receipts or redemption or conversion of the Preferred Stock, except for taxes (including transfer taxes, if any) and other governmental charges and such other charges as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be at the expense of holders of Depositary Receipts or persons depositing Preferred Stock.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Preferred Stock Depositary will make available for inspection by holders of Depositary Receipts, at its Corporate Office and its New York Office, all reports and communications from the Company which are delivered to the Preferred Stock Depositary as the holder of Preferred Stock.
Neither the Preferred Stock Depositary nor the Company will be liable if it is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under the Deposit Agreement. The obligations of the Preferred Stock Depositary under the Deposit Agreement are limited to performing its
22

duties thereunder without negligence or bad faith. The obligations of the Company under the Deposit Agreement are limited to performing its duties thereunder in good faith. Neither the Company nor the Preferred Stock Depositary is obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any Depositary Shares or Preferred Stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. The Company and the Preferred Stock Depositary are entitled to rely upon advice of or information from counsel, accountants or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
The Preferred Stock Depositary may resign at any time or be removed by the Company, effective upon the acceptance by its successor of its appointment; provided, that if a successor Preferred Stock Depositary has not been appointed or accepted such appointment within 45 days after the Preferred Stock Depositary has delivered a notice of election to resign to the Company, the Preferred Stock Depositary may terminate the Deposit Agreement. See "Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement" above.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
GENERAL
The Company may issue Warrants to purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock or any combination thereof, and such Warrants may be issued independently or together with any such Securities and may be attached to or separate from such Securities. Each series of Warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement (each a "Warrant Agreement") to be entered into between the Company and a warrant agent ("Warrant Agent"). The Warrant Agent will act solely as an agent of the Company in connection with the Warrants of each such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of Warrants. The following sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the Warrants offered hereby. Further terms of the Warrants and the applicable Warrant Agreement will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of any Warrants in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered, including the following: (i) the title of such Warrants; (ii) the aggregate number of such Warrants; (iii) the price or prices at which such Warrants will be issued; (iv) the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the price of such Warrants may be payable; (v) the designation and terms of the Securities (other than Preferred Securities and Common Securities) purchasable upon exercise of such Warrants; (vi) the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the Securities (other than Preferred Securities and Common Securities) purchasable upon exercise of such Warrants may be purchased; (vii) the date on which the right to exercise such Warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire; (viii) whether such Warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form; (ix) if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such Warrants which may be exercised at any one time; (x) if applicable, the designation and terms of the Securities (other than Preferred Securities and Common Securities) with which such Warrants are issued and the number of such Warrants issued with each such Security; (xi) if applicable, the date on and after which such Warrants and the related Securities (other than Preferred Securities and Common Securities) will be separately transferable; (xii) information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; (xiii) if applicable, a discussion of certain United States Federal income tax considerations; and (xiv) any other terms of such Warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such Warrants.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES OF THE CONSECO TRUSTS
GENERAL
Each Conseco Trust may issue, from time to time, only one series of Preferred Securities having terms described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. The Declaration of each Conseco Trust authorizes the Regular Trustees of such Conseco Trust to issue on behalf of such Conseco Trust one series of Preferred Securities. Each Declaration will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The Institutional Trustee, an independent trustee, will act as indenture trustee for the Preferred Securities for purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The Preferred Securities will have such terms,
23

including distributions, redemption, voting, liquidation rights and such other preferred, deferred or other special rights or such restrictions as shall be established by the Regular Trustees in accordance with the applicable Declaration or as shall be set forth in the Declaration or made part of the Declaration by the Trust Indenture Act. Reference is made to any Prospectus Supplement relating to the Preferred Securities of a Conseco Trust for specific terms of the Preferred Securities, including, to the extent applicable, (i) the distinctive designation of such Preferred Securities, (ii) the number of Preferred Securities issued by such Conseco Trust, (iii) the annual distribution rate (or method of determining such rate) for Preferred Securities issued by such Conseco Trust and the date or dates upon which such distributions shall be payable (provided, however, that distributions on such Preferred Securities shall, subject to any deferral provisions, and any provisions for payment of defaulted distributions, be payable on a quarterly basis to holders of such Preferred Securities as of a record date in each quarter during which such Preferred Securities are outstanding), (iv) any right of such Conseco Trust to defer quarterly distributions on the Preferred Securities as a result of an interest deferral right exercised by the Company on the Subordinated Debt Securities held by such Conseco Trust; (v) whether distributions on Preferred Securities shall be cumulative, and, in the case of Preferred Securities having such cumulative distribution rights, the date or dates or method of determining the date or dates from which distributions on Preferred Securities shall be cumulative, (vi) the amount or amounts which shall be paid out of the assets of such Conseco Trust to the holders of Preferred Securities upon voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of such Conseco Trust, (vii) the obligation or option, if any, of such Conseco Trust to purchase or redeem Preferred Securities and the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Preferred Securities shall be purchased or redeemed, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation or option with such redemption price to be specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, (viii) the voting rights, if any, of Preferred Securities in addition to those required by law, including the number of votes per Preferred Security and any requirement for the approval by the holders of Preferred Securities as a condition to specified action or amendments to the Declaration,
(ix) the terms and conditions, if any, upon which Subordinated Debt Securities held by such Conseco Trust may be distributed to holders of Preferred Securities, and (x) any other relevant rights, preferences, privileges, limitations or restrictions of Preferred Securities consistent with the Declaration or with applicable law. All Preferred Securities offered hereby will be guaranteed by the Company to the extent set forth below under "Description of Trust Guarantees." The Trust Guarantee issued to each Conseco Trust, when taken together with the Company's back-up undertakings, consisting of its obligations under each Declaration (including the obligation to pay expenses of each Conseco Trust), the applicable Indenture and any applicable supplemental indentures thereto and the Subordinated Debt Securities issued to any Conseco Trust will provide a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of amounts due on the Preferred Securities issued by each Conseco Trust. The payment terms of the Preferred Securities will be the same as the Subordinated Debt Securities issued to the applicable Conseco Trust by the Company.
Each Declaration authorizes the Regular Trustees to issue on behalf of the applicable Trust one series of Common Securities having such terms including distributions, redemption, voting, liquidation rights or such restrictions as shall be established by the Regular Trustees in accordance with the Declaration or as shall otherwise be set forth therein. The terms of the Common Securities issued by each Conseco Trust will be substantially identical to the terms of the Preferred Securities issued by such Conseco Trust, and the Common Securities will rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon pro rata, with the Preferred Securities except that, if an event of default under such Declaration has occurred and is continuing, the rights of the holders of the Common Securities to payment 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 Common Securities will also carry the right to vote and to appoint, remove or replace any of the Conseco Trustees of such Conseco Trust. All of the Common Securities of each Conseco Trust will be directly or indirectly owned by the Company.
The financial statements of any Conseco Trust that issues Preferred Securities will be reflected in the Company's consolidated financial statements with the Preferred Securities shown as Company-obligated mandatorily-redeemable preferred securities of a subsidiary trust under minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries. In a footnote to the Company's audited financial statements there will be included statements that the applicable Conseco Trust is wholly-owned by the Company and that the sole asset of such Conseco
24

Trust is the Subordinated Debt Securities (indicating the principal amount, interest rate and maturity date thereof).
DESCRIPTION OF TRUST GUARANTEES
Set forth below is a summary of information concerning the Trust Guarantees that will be executed and delivered by the Company for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of Preferred Securities. Each Trust Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, State Street Bank and Trust Company will act as independent indenture trustee for Trust Indenture Act purposes under each Trust Guarantee (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee"). The terms of each Trust Guarantee will be those set forth in such Trust Guarantee and those made part of such Trust Guarantee by the Trust Indenture Act. The following summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the form of Trust Guarantee, a copy of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part, and the Trust Indenture Act. Each Trust Guarantee will be held by the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities of the applicable Conseco Trust.
GENERAL
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, pursuant to each Trust Guarantee, the Company will agree, to the extent set forth therein, to pay in full to the holders of the Preferred Securities, the Guarantee Payments (as defined below) (except to the extent paid by such Conseco Trust), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which such Conseco Trust may have or assert. The following payments or distributions with respect to the Preferred Securities (the "Guarantee Payments"), to the extent not paid by such Conseco Trust, will be subject to the Trust Guarantee (without duplication): (i) any accrued and unpaid distributions that are required to be paid on such Preferred Securities, to the extent such Conseco Trust shall have funds available therefor, (ii) the redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price"), to the extent such Conseco Trust has funds available therefor, with respect to any Preferred Securities called for redemption by such Conseco Trust and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of such Conseco Trust (other than in connection with such distribution of Subordinated Debt Securities to the holders of Preferred Securities or the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities upon maturity or redemption of the Subordinated Debt Securities) the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid distributions on such Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent such Conseco Trust has funds available therefor or (b) the amount of assets of such Conseco Trust remaining for distribution to holders of such Preferred Securities in liquidation of such Conseco Trust. The Company's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Company to the holders of Preferred Securities or by causing the applicable Conseco Trust to pay such amounts to such holders.
Each Trust Guarantee will not apply to any payment of distributions except to the extent the applicable Conseco Trust shall have funds available therefor. If the Company does not make interest or principal payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities purchased by such Conseco Trust, such Conseco Trust will not pay distributions on the Preferred Securities issued by such Conseco Trust and will not have funds available therefor.
The Company has also agreed to guarantee the obligations of each Conseco Trust with respect to the Common Securities (the "Common Guarantee") issued by such Conseco Trust to the same extent as the Trust Guarantee, except that, if an Event of Default under the Subordinated Indenture has occurred and is continuing, holders of Preferred Securities under the Trust Guarantee shall have priority over holders of the Common Securities under the Common Guarantee with respect to distributions and payments on liquidation, redemption or otherwise.
25

CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, in each Trust Guarantee, the Company will covenant that, so long as any Preferred Securities issued by the applicable Conseco Trust remain outstanding, if there shall have occurred any event of default under such Trust Guarantee or under the Declaration of such Conseco Trust, then (a) the Company will not declare or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock (other than (i) purchases or acquisitions of capital stock of the Company in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any employee or agent benefit plans or the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations pursuant to any contract or security outstanding on the date of such event requiring the Company to purchase capital stock of the Company, (ii) as a result of a reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for another class or series of the Company's capital stock, (iii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (iv) dividends or distributions in capital stock of the Company (or rights to acquire capital stock) or repurchases or redemptions of capital stock solely from the issuance or exchange of capital stock or (v) redemptions or repurchases of any rights outstanding under a shareholder rights plan); (b) the Company shall not make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by the Company which rank junior to the Subordinated Debt Securities issued to the applicable Conseco Trust and (c) the Company shall not make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing (other than pursuant to a Trust Guarantee).
MODIFICATION OF THE TRUST GUARANTEES; ASSIGNMENT
Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the rights of holders of Preferred Securities (in which case no consent of such holders will be required), each Trust Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the holders of not less than a majority in liquidation amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities of such Conseco Trust. The manner of obtaining any such approval of holders of such Preferred Securities will be set forth in accompanying Prospectus Supplement. All guarantees and agreements contained in a Trust Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities of the applicable Conseco Trust then outstanding.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An event of default under a Trust Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the Company to perform any of its payment or other obligations thereunder. The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities to which such Trust Guarantee relates have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee in respect of such Trust Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee under such Trust Guarantee.
If the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce such Trust Guarantee, any record holder of Preferred Securities to which such Trust Guarantee relates may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee's rights under such Trust Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the applicable Conseco Trust, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company has failed to make a Guarantee Payment under a Trust Guarantee, a record holder of Preferred Securities to which such Trust Guarantee relates may directly institute a proceeding against the Company for enforcement of such Trust Guarantee for such payment to the record holder of the Preferred Securities to which such Trust Guarantee relates of the principal of or interest on the applicable Subordinated Debt Securities on or after the respective due dates specified in the Subordinated Debt Securities, and the amount of the payment will be based on the holder's pro rata share of the amount due and owing on all of the Preferred Securities to which such Trust Guarantee relates. The Company has waived any right or remedy to require that any action be brought first against the applicable Conseco Trust or any other person or entity before proceeding directly
26

against the Company. The record holder in the case of the issuance of one or more global Preferred Securities certificates will be The Depository Trust Company acting at the direction of the beneficial owners of the Preferred Securities.
The Company will be required to provide annually to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee a statement as to the performance by the Company of certain of its obligations under each outstanding Trust Guarantee and as to any default in such performance.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
The Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee, prior to the occurrence of a default to a Trust Guarantee, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in such Trust Guarantee and, after default with respect to such Trust Guarantee, shall exercise the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provision, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by a Trust Guarantee at the request of any holder of Preferred Securities to which such Trust Guarantee relates unless it is offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred thereby.
TERMINATION
Each Trust Guarantee will terminate as to the Preferred Securities issued by the applicable Conseco Trust upon full payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred Securities of such Conseco Trust, upon distribution of the Subordinated Debt Securities held by such Conseco Trust to the holders of all of the Preferred Securities of such Conseco Trust or upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration of such Conseco Trust upon liquidation of such Conseco Trust. Each Trust Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of Preferred Securities issued by the applicable Conseco Trust must restore payment of any sums paid under such Preferred Securities or such Trust Guarantee.
STATUS OF THE TRUST GUARANTEES
The Trust Guarantees will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Company and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of the Company, including the Subordinated Debt Securities, except those liabilities of the Company made pari passu or subordinate by their terms,
(ii) pari passu with the most senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Company and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Company in respect of any preferred or preference stock of any affiliate of the Company and (iii) senior to the Common Stock. The terms of the Preferred Securities provide that each holder of Preferred Securities by acceptance thereof agrees to the subordination provisions and other terms of the Trust Guarantee relating thereto.
Each Trust Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection (that is, the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce its rights under such Trust Guarantee without instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity).
GOVERNING LAW
The Trust Guarantees will be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS
The Company may issue Stock Purchase Contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from the Company, and the Company to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares at a future date or dates. The consideration per share of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares may be fixed at the time the Stock Purchase Contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the Stock Purchase Contracts. The Stock
27

Purchase Contracts may be issued separately or as a part of units ("Stock Purchase Units") consisting of a Stock Purchase Contract and Debt Securities, Preferred Securities or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, securing the holders' obligations to purchase the Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares under the Stock Purchase Contracts. The Stock Purchase Contracts may require the Company to make periodic payments to the holders of the Stock Purchase Units or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The Stock Purchase Contracts may require holders to secure their obligations thereunder in a specified manner.
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of any Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units. The description in the Prospectus Supplement will not necessarily be complete, and reference will be made to the Stock Purchase Contracts, and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, relating to such Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Company and/or any Conseco Trust may sell any of the Securities being offered hereby in any one or more of the following ways from time to time: (i) through agents; (ii) to or through underwriters; (iii) through dealers; or (iv) directly to purchasers.
The Prospectus Supplement with respect to the Securities will set forth the terms of the offering of the Securities, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents; the purchase price of the Securities and the proceeds to the Company and/or a Conseco Trust from such sale; any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters' or agents' compensation; any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed. Any initial public offering price, discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
The distribution of the Securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
Offers to purchase Securities may be solicited by agents designated by the Company from time to time. Any such agent involved in the offer or sale of the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by the Company and/or the applicable Conseco Trust to such agent will be set forth, in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in such Prospectus Supplement, any such agent will be acting on a reasonable best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any such agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the Securities so offered and sold.
If Securities are sold by means of an underwritten offering, the Company and/or the applicable Conseco Trust will execute an underwriting agreement with an underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for such sale is reached, and the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriters, and the terms of the transaction, including commissions, discounts and any other compensation of the underwriters and dealers, if any, will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement which will be used by the underwriters to make resales of the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is delivered to the public. If underwriters are utilized in the sale of the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is delivered, the 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 fixed public offering prices or at varying prices determined by the underwriter at the time of sale. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by the managing underwriters. If any underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale of the Securities, unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the underwriting agreement will provide that the obligations of the underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the underwriters with respect to a sale of Securities will be obligated to purchase all such Securities of a series if any are purchased.
28

If a dealer is utilized in the sales of the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is delivered, the Company and/or the applicable Conseco Trust will sell such Securities to the dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell such Securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. Any such dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, of the Securities so offered and sold. The name of the dealer and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
Offers to purchase Securities may be solicited directly by the Company and/or the applicable Conseco Trust and the sale thereof may be made by the Company and/or the applicable Conseco Trust directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale thereof. The terms of any such sales will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under relevant agreements to indemnification or contribution by the Company and/or the applicable Conseco Trust against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Agents, underwriters and dealers may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, the Company and its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.
Securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more firms ("remarketing firms"), acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for the Company and/or the applicable Conseco Trust. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with its compensation will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, in connection with the Securities remarketed thereby. Remarketing firms may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with the Company and/or the applicable Conseco Trust to indemnification or contribution by the Company and/or the applicable Conseco Trust against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for Conseco and its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.
If so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company and/or the applicable Conseco Trust may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain types of institutions to purchase Securities from the Company and/or the applicable Conseco Trust at the public offering prices set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts ("Contracts") providing for payment and delivery on a specified date or dates in the future. A commission indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement will be paid to underwriters, dealers and agents soliciting purchases of Securities pursuant to Contracts accepted by the Company and/or the applicable Conseco Trust.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
All statements, trend analyses and other information contained in this Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement or any document incorporated by reference herein relative to markets for the products of the Company or Green Tree Financial Corporation ("Green Tree") and trends in the Company's or Green Tree's operations or financial results, as well as other statements including words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," and other similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results to be materially different from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things: (1) general economic conditions and other factors, including prevailing interest rate levels, short-term interest rate fluctuations, stock market performance and health care inflation, which may affect the ability of the Company to sell its products, the ability of Green Tree to make loans and access capital resources, the market value of the Company's or Green Tree's investments, the lapse rate and profitability of the Company's policies and the level of defaults and prepayments of loans made by Green Tree; (2) the Company's ability to
29

achieve anticipated levels of operational efficiencies at recently acquired companies, as well as through other cost-saving initiatives; (3) customer response to new products, distribution channels and marketing initiatives; (4) mortality, morbidity, usage of health care services and other factors which may affect the profitability of the Company's insurance products; (5) changes in the Federal income tax laws and regulations which may affect the relative tax advantages of some of the Company's products; (6) increasing competition in the sale of insurance and annuities and in the consumer finance business; (7) regulatory changes or actions, including those relating to regulation of financial services affecting (among other things) bank sales and underwriting of insurance products, regulation of the sale, underwriting and pricing of insurance products, and health care regulation affecting the Company's supplemental health insurance products; (8) the availability and terms of future acquisitions; and (9) the risk factors or uncertainties listed from time to time in any Prospectus Supplement or any document incorporated by reference herein. In addition to the above, these statements are subject to uncertainties related to the synergies, charges and expenses associated with the Green Tree Merger.
LEGAL MATTERS
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the legal validity of Securities (other than the Preferred Securities) will be passed upon for the Company by John J. Sabl, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company. Mr. Sabl is a full-time employee of the Company and owns 75,000 shares and holds options to purchase 450,000 shares of Common Stock.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Preferred Securities will be passed upon for the Conseco Trusts by Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware, special Delaware counsel to the Conseco Trusts.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997 incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, have been audited by Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., independent accountants, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein and are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Green Tree at December 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997, included in the Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 3, 1998, which is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, have been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public accountants, as set forth in their report thereon incorporated by reference herein, and are incorporated by reference in reliance upon such report, given upon authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
30

8,000,000 
PREFERRED SECURITIES
CONSECO FINANCING
TRUST VI
9% TRUST ORIGINATED
PREFERRED SECURITIES
 ("TOPRSSM")

FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
GUARANTEED BY
CONSECO, INC.

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
CIBC OPPENHEIMER
A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
LEHMAN BROTHERS
PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
OCTOBER 8, 1998