Edgar Filing: EVEREST RE GROUP LTD

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-97367
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated September 26, 2002)

8,000,000 Preferred Securities

Everest Re Capital Trust

7.85% Trust Preferred Securities

($25 liquidation amount)
Guaranteed to the extent described in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus by

Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc.

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Each of the 7.85% Trust Preferred Securities, referred to in this prospectus
supplement as preferred securities, represents an undivided beneficial
ownership interest in the assets of Everest Capital Trust. Everest Holdings
will be the owner of all of the undivided beneficial ownership interests
represented by common securities of Everest Capital Trust.

A brief description of the preferred securities can be found under "Summary
Information -- Q&A" in this prospectus supplement. The preferred securities
have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to
official notice of issuance. Trading of the preferred securities is expected to
begin within 30 days after they are first issued.

See "Risk Factors" beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement to
read about certain factors you should consider before buying the preferred
securities.

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Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body
has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or
adequacy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

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Per Preferred
Security Total
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Initial public offering price (1)..................... $25.00 $200,000,000
Underwriting commission to be paid by Everest Holdings (2) (2)
Proceeds, before expenses, to Everest Capital Trust... $25.00 $200,000,000

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(1) Plus accrued distributions, if any, from November 14, 2002.
(2) In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the preferred
securities will ultimately be used to purchase junior subordinated debt
securities of Everest Holdings, the underwriting agreement provides that
Everest Holdings will pay as compensation to the underwriters $.7875 per
preferred security ($6,300,000 in the aggregate, $7,087,500 in the
aggregate if the over-allotment option referred to below is exercised in
full).

Within 30 days from the date of this prospectus the underwriters may also
purchase up to an additional 1,000,000 preferred securities at $25 per
preferred security plus accrued distributions from November 14, 2002, to cover
over-allotments, if any.

The preferred securities will be ready for delivery in book-entry form only
through The Depository Trust Company on or about November 14, 2002.

Joint Book-Running Managers

Salomon Smith Barney Morgan Stanley

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Merrill Lynch & Co.
UBS Warburg

Wachovia Securities
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Bear Stearns & Co., Inc.
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Lehman Brothers

Prospectus Supplement dated November 8, 2002

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
----

Prospectus Supplement

About This Prospectus..................................................................................... S-1
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements...................................................... S-1
Summary Information -- Q&A................................................................................ S-2
Risk Factors.............................................................................................. S-8
Use of Proceeds........................................................................................... S-12
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges of Everest Holdings.................................................... S-12
Accounting Treatment...................................................................................... S-12
Capitalization............................................................................................ S-13
Selected Consolidated Financial Data of Everest Holdings.................................................. S-14
Terms of the Preferred Securities......................................................................... S-16
Terms of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities.......................................................... S-22
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences............................................................. S-29
ERISA Considerations...................................................................................... S-35
Underwriting.............................................................................................. S-37
Experts................................................................................................... S-39
Legal Matters............................................................................................. S-39
Incorporation by Reference................................................................................ S-40

Prospectus

About This Prospectus..................................................................................... i
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements...................................................... 1
Everest Re Group, Ltd..................................................................................... 1
Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc......................................................................... 2
Everest Re Capital Trust.................................................................................. 2
Risk Factors.............................................................................................. 3
Use of Proceeds........................................................................................... 10
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges........................................................................ 10
Accounting Treatment...................................................................................... 10
Description of our Capital Stock.......................................................................... 10
Description of the Debt Securities........................................................................ 14
Description of the Warrants............................................................................... 26
Description of the Share Purchase Contracts and the Share Purchase Units.................................. 28
Description of the Trust Preferred Securities............................................................. 28
Description of the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee................................................... 35
Relationship of the Trust Preferred Securities, the Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Debt Securities
Held by Everest Capital Trust........................................................................... 38
Plan of Distribution...................................................................................... 38
Experts................................................................................................... 40
Legal Matters............................................................................................. 40
Enforcement of Civil Liabilities.......................................................................... 41
Where You Can Find More Information....................................................................... 41

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This document consists of two parts. The first part is this prospectus
supplement, which describes the terms of the offering of the preferred
securities and also adds to and updates information contained in the
accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into the
accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which
gives more general information, some of which may not apply to the offering of
the preferred securities.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
"Incorporated by reference" means that Everest Holdings and Everest Capital
Trust can disclose important information to you by referring you to another
document filed separately with the SEC. Neither Everest Holdings nor Everest
Capital Trust has 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. Neither Everest Holdings nor Everest Capital Trust
is making, nor will they make, an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction
where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the
information appearing in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus is current only as of the dates on their covers. Everest Holdings'
business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have
changed since that date.

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus
supplement to "Everest Group" refer to Everest Re Group, Ltd. and its
subsidiaries, collectively. References to "Everest Holdings" refer to Everest
Reinsurance Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries, collectively. References to
"Everest Capital Trust" refer to Everest Re Capital Trust, a Delaware statutory
trust. References to "Everest Bermuda" refer to Everest Reinsurance (Bermuda),
Ltd. References to "$" are to United States currency, and the terms "United
States" and "U.S." mean the United States of America, its states, its
territories, its possessions and all areas subject to its jurisdiction.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference in
this prospectus supplement may contain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements
are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking
statements in the federal securities laws. In some cases, you can identify
these statements by the use of forward-looking words such as "may," "will,"
"should," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "believe," "predict,"
"potential," and "intend." You should be aware that these statements and any
other forward-looking statements in these documents only reflect expectations
and are not guarantees of performance. These statements involve risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. Actual events or results may differ materially
from expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to be
materially different from expectations include those discussed under the
captions "Risk Factors" on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement and on page 3
of the accompanying prospectus. Neither Everest Holdings nor Everest Capital
Trust undertakes any obligation to update or revise publicly any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.

CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THE OFFERING MADE HEREBY MAY ENGAGE IN
TRANSACTIONS THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE
SECURITIES, INCLUDING OVER-ALLOTMENT, STABILIZING AND SHORT-COVERING
TRANSACTIONS IN THE SECURITIES AND THE IMPOSITION OF A PENALTY BID, IN
CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE HEREBY.

S-1

SUMMARY INFORMATION -- Q&A

The following information supplements, and should be read together with, the
information contained in other parts of this prospectus supplement and in the
accompanying prospectus. This summary highlights selected information from this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to help you understand
the preferred securities, the junior subordinated debt securities and the
preferred securities guarantee. You should carefully read this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus to understand fully the terms of the
preferred securities, as well as the tax and other considerations that are
important to you in making a decision about whether to invest in the preferred
securities. You should pay special attention to the "Risk Factors" section in
this prospectus supplement to determine whether an investment in the preferred
securities is appropriate for you.

What are the preferred securities?

Each preferred security represents an undivided beneficial interest in the
assets of Everest Capital Trust. Each preferred security will entitle the
holder to receive quarterly cash distributions as described in this prospectus
supplement. The underwriters are offering preferred securities at a price of
$25 for each preferred security.

Everest Holdings will own all of the common securities issued by Everest
Capital Trust and Everest Holdings will guarantee the preferred securities
issued by Everest Capital Trust to the extent described in this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Who is Everest Holdings?

Everest Holdings' principal business, conducted through its operating
subsidiaries, is the underwriting of reinsurance and insurance in the United
States and international markets. Reinsurance is a form of insurance purchased
by an insurance company to indemnify it for all or part of the loss that it may
sustain under insurance contracts it has written. Insurance companies
purchasing reinsurance are often referred to as ceding companies or reinsureds.
Everest Holdings underwrites reinsurance both through brokers and directly with
ceding companies, giving it the flexibility to pursue business regardless of
the ceding company's preferred reinsurance purchasing method.

Everest Holdings was established in 1993 in Delaware to serve as the parent
holding company of Everest Reinsurance Company, referred to in this prospectus
supplement as Everest Re. Until October 6, 1995, Everest Holdings was an
indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of The Prudential Insurance Company of
America, referred to in this prospectus supplement as The Prudential. On
October 6, 1995, The Prudential sold its entire interest in Everest Holdings'
shares of common stock in an initial public offering. Effective February 24,
2000, Everest Holdings completed a restructuring pursuant to which Everest
Holdings became the wholly-owned subsidiary of Everest Group, and each
outstanding share of common stock of Everest Holdings automatically converted
into one common share of Everest Group. Everest Holdings continues to act as
the holding company for the subsidiaries of Everest Group in the United States
and Canada. Everest Holdings' significant operating subsidiaries are:

. Everest Reinsurance Company, a Delaware insurance company, underwrites
property and casualty reinsurance for insurance and reinsurance
companies in the United States and international markets.

. Everest National Insurance Company, an Arizona insurance company, writes
property and casualty insurance in the United States.

S-2

. Everest Indemnity Insurance Company, a Delaware insurance company,
engages in the excess and surplus lines insurance business in the United
States. Excess and surplus lines insurance is specialty property and
liability coverage that an insurer not licensed to write insurance in a
particular state is permitted to provide when the specific specialty
coverage is unavailable from licensed insurers.

. Mt. McKinley Insurance Company, formerly known as Gibraltar Casualty
Company, a Delaware insurance company, engaged in the excess and surplus
lines insurance business in the United States from 1978 to 1985. In
1985, it ceased writing new and renewal insurance, and now its ongoing
operations relate to servicing claims arising from its previously
written business.

. Everest Security Insurance Company, a Georgia insurance company, writes
property and casualty insurance in Georgia.

Everest Holdings' principal executive offices are located at 477
Martinsville Road, P.O. Box 830, Liberty Corner, New Jersey 07938-0830, and its
telephone number is (908) 604-3000.

Who is Everest Group?

Everest Group was established in 1999 as a Bermuda company to serve as the
parent holding company of Everest Holdings. Everest Group's principal business
is the underwriting of reinsurance and insurance in the United States and
international markets through Everest Holdings' operating subsidiaries and
through Everest Group's subsidiary, Everest Bermuda. Everest Bermuda is a
Bermuda insurance company that writes property and casualty business and life
and annuity business from its offices in Bermuda. All of Everest Group's
insurance company subsidiaries, except Mt. McKinley Insurance Company, are
rated A+ ("Superior") by A.M. Best Company, an independent insurance industry
rating organization that rates insurance companies on factors of concern to
policyholders.

Everest Group is not issuing or guaranteeing the preferred securities or the
junior subordinated debt securities described in this prospectus supplement and
will not have any liability for any of the securities described in this
prospectus supplement.

Everest Group's principal executive offices are located at c/o ABG Financial
& Management Services Inc., Parker House, Wildey Business Park, Wildey Road,
St. Michael, Barbados, and its telephone number is (246) 228-7398.

Who is Everest Capital Trust?

Everest Re Capital Trust is a Delaware statutory trust. Everest Capital
Trust exists solely to:

. issue and sell its preferred securities, representing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of Everest Capital Trust, to the
public;

. issue and sell its common securities, representing undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of Everest Capital Trust, to Everest Holdings;

. use the proceeds from the sale of its preferred and common securities to
purchase a series of Everest Holdings' junior subordinated debt
securities with the same financial terms as the preferred securities;

. distribute the cash payments it receives from the junior subordinated
debt securities it owns to the holders of the preferred and common
securities; and

. engage in other activities that are necessary or incidental to these
purposes.

S-3

Everest Holdings will purchase all of the common securities of Everest
Capital Trust. The common securities will represent an aggregate liquidation
amount equal to at least 3% of Everest Capital Trust's total capitalization.
The preferred securities will represent the remaining 97% of Everest Capital
Trust's total capitalization. The common securities will have terms
substantially identical to, and will rank equal in priority of payment with,
the preferred securities. However, if Everest Holdings defaults on the junior
subordinated debt securities, then cash distributions and liquidation,
redemption and other amounts payable on the common securities will be
subordinate in priority of payment to these amounts payable on the preferred
securities.

The preferred securities will be guaranteed by Everest Holdings as described
in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Everest Holdings has appointed five trustees to conduct Everest Capital
Trust's activities and affairs:

. JPMorgan Chase Bank, as property trustee;

. Chase Manhattan Bank USA, National Association, as Delaware trustee; and

. Three officers of Everest Holdings, as administrative trustees.

Except under specified limited circumstances, only Everest Holdings can
remove or replace the trustees. In addition, Everest Holdings can increase or
decrease the number of trustees.

The duties and obligations of each trustee are contained in the trust
agreement governing the preferred securities, referred to in this prospectus
supplement as the trust agreement. The trust agreement is described in this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Pursuant to the trust
agreement, the property trustee must hold the junior subordinated debt
securities in trust for the benefit of the holders of the preferred securities
and the common securities and has the power to exercise all rights, powers and
privileges under the junior subordinated indenture as the holder of the junior
subordinated debt securities.

Everest Holdings will pay all fees and expenses related to Everest Capital
Trust and the offering of the preferred securities and will pay all ongoing
costs and expenses of Everest Capital Trust, except Everest Capital Trust's
obligations under the preferred and common securities.

Everest Capital Trust does not have separate financial statements. The
statements would not be material to holders of the preferred securities because
Everest Capital Trust will not have any independent operations and exists
solely for the reasons summarized above. Everest Holdings files consolidated
financial information regarding Everest Capital Trust.

Everest Capital Trust's principal executive offices are located at 477
Martinsville Road, P.O. Box 830, Liberty Corner, New Jersey 07938-0830, and its
telephone number is (908) 604-3000.

When will you receive quarterly distributions?

You will be entitled to receive cumulative cash distributions at an annual
rate of 7.85% of the liquidation amount of $25 per preferred security.
Distributions will accrue from the date Everest Capital Trust issues the
preferred securities and will be paid quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of
February, May, August and November of each year, beginning February 15, 2003.

When can payment of your distributions be deferred?

The ability of Everest Capital Trust to pay distributions on the preferred
securities is solely dependent on the receipt of interest payments from Everest
Holdings on the junior subordinated debt securities. Everest Holdings

S-4

may, at any time and from time to time, so long as Everest Holdings is not in
default with respect to the terms of the junior subordinated debt securities,
defer the interest payments due on the junior subordinated debt securities for
up to 20 consecutive quarters, but not beyond the maturity date of the junior
subordinated debt securities. These deferred interest payments will accumulate
at the rate of 7.85% per year compounded quarterly. Once Everest Holdings makes
all interest payments on the junior subordinated debt securities, it can again
postpone interest payments on the junior subordinated debt securities.

If Everest Holdings defers interest payments on the junior subordinated debt
securities, the corresponding quarterly distributions on the preferred
securities will be deferred by Everest Capital Trust but will continue to
accumulate and will accrue interest at the rate of 7.85% per year compounded
quarterly until the end of the deferral period.

During any period in which Everest Holdings defers any interest payment on
the junior subordinated debt securities or is in default under the terms of the
junior subordinated debt securities or the guarantee, neither it nor its
subsidiaries will be permitted to:

. declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to any of, Everest
Holdings' capital stock;

. make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of Everest Holdings, including
other junior subordinated debt securities, that rank equally with or
junior in interest to the junior subordinated debt securities; or

. make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by Everest
Holdings of the debt securities of any subsidiary of Everest Holdings if
that guarantee ranks equally with or junior in interest to the junior
subordinated debt securities.

In addition, during any period in which Everest Holdings has elected to
defer interest payments on the junior subordinated debt securities, neither
Everest Group nor its subsidiaries may declare or pay any dividends or
distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment
with respect to, any of Everest Group's capital stock.

There are limited exceptions to these restrictions that are described in
this prospectus supplement under the headings "Terms of the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities -- Option to Extend Interest Payment Period" and
"-- Restrictions on Specified Payments."

If Everest Holdings defers interest payments on the junior subordinated debt
securities, and distributions on the preferred securities are consequently
deferred, you will be required to accrue interest income for U.S. federal
income tax purposes prior to receiving any corresponding distribution with
respect to the deferred distributions on the preferred securities. See "Risk
Factors -- Everest Holdings' ability to defer distributions has tax
consequences for you and may affect the trading price of the preferred
securities" and "United States Federal Income Tax Consequences."

When can Everest Capital Trust redeem the preferred securities?

Everest Capital Trust will redeem all of the outstanding preferred
securities when the junior subordinated debt securities are paid at maturity on
November 15, 2032. In addition, if Everest Holdings redeems any junior
subordinated debt securities before their maturity, Everest Capital Trust will
use the cash it receives from the redemption of the junior subordinated debt
securities to redeem, on a proportionate basis, preferred securities and common
securities having an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of the junior subordinated debt securities redeemed.

S-5

Everest Holdings can redeem the junior subordinated debt securities before
their maturity at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest as of
the date of redemption:

. in whole or in part, on one or more occasions at any time on or after
November 14, 2007; and

. at any time, in whole, but not in part, within 90 days of the occurrence
and continuation of specified changes in tax or regulatory law, referred
to in this prospectus supplement as a tax event and an investment
company event, respectively.

What is the nature of the guarantee by Everest Holdings?

Everest Holdings has irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed, on a
subordinated basis:

. the payment in full of distributions on the preferred securities to the
extent Everest Capital Trust has available funds for distribution;

. the redemption price of the preferred securities called for redemption
by Everest Capital Trust upon an optional redemption or a redemption due
to the occurrence of a tax event or an investment company event to the
extent Everest Capital Trust has available funds for distribution; and

. upon a liquidation of Everest Capital Trust, unless junior subordinated
debt securities are distributed to holders of the preferred securities,
the lesser of (1) the liquidation amount of, and accumulated
distributions on, the preferred securities to the extent Everest Capital
Trust has available funds for distribution and (2) the amount of assets
of Everest Capital Trust available for distribution to holders of
preferred securities after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors.

If Everest Holdings does not make a required payment on the junior
subordinated debt securities, Everest Capital Trust will not have sufficient
funds to make the related payment on the preferred securities. The guarantee
does not cover payments on the preferred securities when Everest Capital Trust
does not have sufficient funds to make these payments. If Everest Holdings does
not pay any amounts on the junior subordinated debt securities when due, you
will have to rely on the enforcement by the property trustee of the trustee's
rights as registered holder of the junior subordinated debt securities, or
proceed directly against Everest Holdings for payment of any amounts due on the
preferred securities. Everest Holdings' obligations under the guarantee are
unsecured and are subordinated to and junior in right of payment to all of
Everest Holdings' secured and senior debt, and rank on parity with all other
similar guarantees issued by Everest Holdings.

When could the junior subordinated debt securities be distributed to you?

Everest Holdings, as the depositor of Everest Capital Trust, has the right
to dissolve Everest Capital Trust at any time. If Everest Holdings exercises
this right to dissolve Everest Capital Trust, the trust, after satisfying any
creditors it has, will be liquidated by distribution of the junior subordinated
debt securities to holders of the preferred securities and the common
securities issued by the trust. If Everest Capital Trust distributes the junior
subordinated debt securities, Everest Holdings will use its best efforts to
list the junior subordinated debt securities on the New York Stock Exchange or
any other exchange or quotation system on which the preferred securities are
then listed.

What happens if Everest Capital Trust is dissolved and the junior subordinated
debt securities are not distributed?

Everest Capital Trust may also be dissolved in circumstances where the
junior subordinated debt securities will not be distributed to you. In that
event, after satisfying any of its creditors, Everest Capital Trust will be
obligated to pay in cash the liquidation amount of $25 for each preferred
security plus accumulated distributions to the date the payment is made.
Everest Capital Trust will be able to make this liquidation distribution only
if the junior subordinated debt securities are paid or redeemed by Everest
Holdings.

S-6

What voting rights will the preferred securities have?

Generally, you will have no voting rights with respect to the preferred
securities, as described in detail under the heading "Terms of the Preferred
Securities -- Voting Rights" in this prospectus supplement and under the
headings "Description of the Trust Preferred Securities -- Voting Rights" and
"Description of the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee -- Amendments and
Assignment" in the accompanying prospectus, except in cases in which the
trustees of Everest Capital Trust propose any action which materially and
adversely affects the powers, preferences or special rights of the preferred
securities, whether by amending the trust agreement, the guarantee agreement or
otherwise. You also will have the right to vote on the exercise of the property
trustee's rights as holder of the junior subordinated debt securities and on
waivers of defaults under the indenture governing the junior subordinated debt
securities, referred to in this prospectus supplement as the junior
subordinated indenture.

Will the preferred securities be listed on a stock exchange?

In what form will the preferred securities be issued?

The preferred securities will be represented by one or more global
securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, and registered in the
name of The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, referred to in this
prospectus supplement as DTC, or its nominee. This means that you will not
receive a certificate for your preferred securities. Instead, you will hold
your interest in your preferred securities through DTC's book-entry-only
system. Everest Capital Trust expects that the preferred securities offered
under this prospectus supplement will be ready for delivery through DTC on or
about November 14, 2002.

S-7

RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the following risk factors regarding the
preferred securities, in addition to the other information in this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before you purchase any preferred
securities.

Your investment in the preferred securities is also an investment in the
junior subordinated debt securities.

Because Everest Capital Trust will rely on the payments it receives on the
junior subordinated debt securities to fund all payments on the preferred
securities, and because Everest Capital Trust may distribute the junior
subordinated debt securities in exchange for the preferred securities, you are
making an investment decision with respect to the junior subordinated debt
securities, as well as the preferred securities. As a result, you also should
carefully review the information in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus about the junior subordinated debt securities.

Everest Holdings' obligations under the junior subordinated debt securities
are unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to all of Everest Holdings'
secured and senior debt.

The junior subordinated debt securities are unsecured obligations of Everest
Holdings, subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all
secured and senior indebtedness of Everest Holdings. As a result, in the event
of the bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of Everest Holdings, or upon
acceleration of the junior subordinated debt securities due to an event of
default, Everest Holdings' assets will be available to pay its obligations on
the junior subordinated debt securities only after all secured and senior
indebtedness has been paid in full. There may not be sufficient assets
remaining to pay amounts due on any or all of the junior subordinated debt
securities then outstanding. As of September 30, 2002, Everest Holdings had no
secured indebtedness outstanding and approximately $573.9 million of unsecured
senior indebtedness outstanding, which ranks senior in priority to the junior
subordinated debt securities and which does not include indebtedness of its
subsidiaries.

Everest Holdings' obligations under the junior subordinated debt securities
are effectively subordinated to all of the indebtedness and other liabilities
of Everest Holdings' subsidiaries.

Everest Holdings is a holding company that conducts substantially all of its
business through its subsidiaries. The junior subordinated debt securities are
effectively subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of Everest
Holdings' subsidiaries. As a result, in the event of the bankruptcy,
liquidation or reorganization of Everest Holdings, or upon acceleration of the
junior subordinated debt securities due to an event of default, assets of
Everest Holdings' subsidiaries will be available to pay obligations under the
junior subordinated debt securities only after all creditors of the
subsidiaries have been paid in full. Accordingly, holders of the junior
subordinated debt securities should look only to the assets of Everest Holdings
for payments on the junior subordinated debt securities. As of September 30,
2002, Everest Holdings' subsidiaries had approximately $6.0 billion of
indebtedness and other liabilities outstanding, including insurance reserves.

Everest Holdings may incur additional indebtedness that could limit the
amount of funds available to make payments on the junior subordinated debt
securities.

Neither the junior subordinated indenture nor the trust agreement prohibit
or limit the incurrence of secured or senior indebtedness or the incurrence of
other indebtedness and liabilities by Everest Holdings or its subsidiaries. Any
additional indebtedness or liabilities so incurred would reduce the amount of
funds Everest Holdings would have available to pay its obligations under the
junior subordinated debt securities.

S-8

Everest Holdings is a holding company that relies on payments from its
subsidiaries to make payments under the junior subordinated debt securities.

Everest Holdings is a holding company that has no significant operations or
assets other than its ownership of the capital stock of Everest Re. Dividends
and other permitted payments from Everest Re are expected to be the sole source
of funds to meet the financial obligations of Everest Holdings and to make
payments under the junior subordinated debt securities. The payment of
dividends by Everest Re to Everest Holdings is limited by the Delaware
Insurance Code and the Delaware General Corporation Law. Accordingly, Everest
Re may not be able to pay dividends to Everest Holdings in the future, which
would prevent Everest Holdings from making payments on the junior subordinated
debt securities.

Everest Group, which owns Everest Holdings, is not issuing or guaranteeing
the preferred securities or the junior subordinated debt securities described
in this prospectus supplement and will not have any liability for any of the
securities described in this prospectus supplement.

If Everest Holdings does not make payments on the junior subordinated debt
securities, Everest Capital Trust will not be able to pay distributions on the
preferred securities and you will not be able to rely on the guarantee.

The ability of Everest Capital Trust to pay distributions on the preferred
securities and pay the redemption price or liquidation amount of the preferred
securities depends solely upon Everest Holdings making the related payments on
the junior subordinated debt securities when due. If Everest Holdings defaults
on its obligations under the junior subordinated debt securities, Everest
Capital Trust will not have sufficient funds to pay distributions on, or the
redemption or liquidation amounts due with respect to, the preferred
securities. In that case, you will not be able to rely upon the preferred
securities guarantee for payment of these amounts because the guarantee only
applies if Everest Capital Trust has funds available to make the payments due.
Instead, you or the property trustee will have to bring a legal action against
Everest Holdings to enforce the property trustee's rights under the junior
subordinated indenture. Furthermore, Everest Holdings' obligations under the
guarantee are unsecured and are subordinated to and junior in right of payment
to all of Everest Holdings' secured and senior debt, and rank on parity with
all other similar guarantees issued by Everest Holdings. The junior
subordinated indenture provides that if an event occurs that is or would become
an event of default with respect to the junior subordinated debt securities,
and the indenture trustee knows of the event, the indenture trustee must give
holders of the junior subordinated debt securities notice within 90 days,
unless the default has been cured or waived. However, except in the case of a
payment default on the junior subordinated debt securities, the indenture
trustee will be protected in withholding the notice if the board of directors
of Everest Holdings or the responsible officers of the indenture trustee
determine in good faith that withholding of the notice is in the interest of
the holders of the junior subordinated debt securities.

You have limited rights to enforce Everest Holdings' obligations under the
trust agreement and the junior subordinated debt securities.

If an event of default occurs under the junior subordinated indenture, the
event will also be an event of default under the trust agreement. These events
of default are limited to payment defaults, breach of covenants and events of
bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization of Everest Holdings. The holders of
33% in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities may
accelerate payment of the principal and accrued and unpaid interest on the
junior subordinated debt securities only upon the occurrence and continuation
of an event of default under the junior subordinated indenture, and only if the
indenture trustee or the holders of 33% in principal amount of the junior
subordinated debt securities fail to so accelerate. In addition, if Everest
Holdings fails to pay interest or principal on the junior subordinated debt
securities when due, and the failure to pay is continuing, you may directly
institute a proceeding against Everest Holdings for enforcement of payment of
the principal of or interest on the junior subordinated debt securities having
a principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of your
preferred securities.

S-9

You have limited voting rights and generally are not entitled to vote on the
appointment, removal or replacement of the property trustee or the Delaware
trustee.

Generally, you will have no voting rights with respect to the preferred
securities. You will have the right to vote on any action that materially and
adversely affects the power, preferences, or special rights of the preferred
securities in any material respects, on the exercise of the property trustee's
rights as holder of the junior subordinated debt securities and on waivers of
defaults under the junior subordinated indenture. Except under limited
circumstances, only Everest Holdings can elect and remove trustees.
Additionally, Everest Holdings, the property trustee and the Delaware trustee
can amend the trust agreement, without the consent of the holders of the
preferred securities, to ensure that the junior subordinated debt securities
will be treated as indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes or to
ensure that Everest Capital Trust will not be required to register as an
investment company, in each case to the extent that the action does not
adversely affect the interests of holders of preferred securities in any
material respect. However, no amendment to the trust agreement may be made if
the amendment would cause Everest Capital Trust to be taxable as a corporation
or classified as anything other than a grantor trust for U.S. federal income
tax purposes or to be treated as an investment company.

An active trading market for the preferred securities may not develop and
may not afford sufficient liquidity to allow timely disposition of the
preferred securities.

The preferred securities constitute a new issue of securities with no
established trading market. The preferred securities have been approved for
listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.
Trading of the preferred securities is expected to commence within 30 days
after they are first issued. You should be aware that the listing of the
preferred securities will not necessarily ensure that an active trading market
will be available for the preferred securities. A lack of liquidity in the
trading of the preferred securities could prevent you from selling the
preferred securities in the amount and at the time you desire. Additionally, an
illiquid trading market for the preferred securities could result in trading
prices that are substantially below the value of the principal of and the
accrued but unpaid distributions on the preferred securities.

The preferred securities may be redeemed prior to maturity; you may be taxed
on the proceeds and you may not be able to reinvest the proceeds at the same or
a higher rate of return.

The junior subordinated debt securities may be redeemed in whole or in part
on one or more occasions at any time on or after November 14, 2007, or at any
time, in whole, but not in part, within 90 days of the occurrence and
continuation of specified events relating to changes in tax or regulatory law
described in this prospectus supplement. If redeemed on or after November 14,
2007, or upon the occurrence of a tax event or an investment company event, the
redemption price for the junior subordinated debt securities would be equal to
100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on
the junior subordinated debt securities. Upon redemption, Everest Capital Trust
must use the redemption price it receives to redeem on a proportionate basis
preferred securities and common securities having an aggregate liquidation
amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the junior subordinated debt
securities redeemed.

The redemption of the preferred securities would be a taxable event to you
for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, you may not be able to
reinvest the money that you receive in the redemption at a rate that is equal
to or higher than the rate of return on the preferred securities.

Everest Holdings' ability to defer distributions has tax consequences for
you and may affect the trading price of the preferred securities.

So long as no event of default under the junior subordinated indenture has
occurred and is continuing, Everest Holdings can, on one or more occasions,
defer interest payments on the junior subordinated debt securities for up to 20
consecutive quarters, but not beyond the maturity date of the junior
subordinated debt securities. Because interest payments on the junior
subordinated debt securities fund the distributions on the

S-10

preferred securities, any deferral of interest payments on the junior
subordinated debt securities will result in a corresponding deferral of
distributions on the preferred securities. At the end of any extension period,
Everest Holdings must pay all of the accrued interest on the junior
subordinated debt securities and must also pay interest on the deferred
interest payments.

If Everest Holdings defers interest payments on the junior subordinated debt
securities, you will be required to accrue interest income for U.S. federal
income tax purposes in respect of your proportionate share of the junior
subordinated debt securities held by Everest Capital Trust even if you normally
report income only when received. As a result, you may be required to include
the accrued interest in your gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes
prior to your receiving any cash distribution.

Everest Holdings does not currently intend to defer interest payments on the
junior subordinated debt securities. However, if it does so in the future, the
preferred securities may trade at prices that do not fully reflect the value of
the accrued but unpaid distributions. During an extension period, if you sell
any preferred securities, you may not receive the same return on your
investment as someone who continues to hold the preferred securities.
Furthermore, if you sell your preferred securities before the record date for
the first distribution after an extension period, you may never receive the
cash related to the accrued interest that you reported for tax purposes. In
addition, Everest Holdings' right to defer interest payments on the junior
subordinated debt securities could mean that the market price for the preferred
securities may be more volatile than that of other securities without interest
deferral rights.

A distribution of the junior subordinated debt securities in exchange for
the preferred securities could have an adverse effect on the holders of
preferred securities.

Everest Holdings has the right at any time to dissolve Everest Capital Trust
and cause the pro rata distribution of the junior subordinated debt securities,
after payment of all of the trust's debts, if any, in exchange for the
preferred securities. There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the
junior subordinated debt securities that may be distributed upon a liquidation
of the trust. As a result, the junior subordinated debt securities that you may
receive upon liquidation of the trust may trade at a discount to the price that
you paid to purchase the preferred securities.

Under current U.S. federal income tax law, the distribution of the junior
subordinated debt securities upon dissolution of Everest Capital Trust would
not be a taxable event to you. However, if the trust becomes subject to U.S.
federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the junior
subordinated debt securities, a distribution of the junior subordinated debt
securities by the trust could be a taxable event to you.

In the event of this type of distribution, Everest Holdings has agreed to
use its best efforts to list the junior subordinated debt securities on the New
York Stock Exchange or any other exchange or quotation system on which the
preferred securities are then listed. However, Everest Holdings cannot assure
you that the New York Stock Exchange will approve the junior subordinated debt
securities for listing or that a trading market will exist for the junior
subordinated debt securities.

Everest Holdings has no current intention to dissolve Everest Capital Trust
and cause the distribution of the junior subordinated debt securities.

If you sell preferred securities between record dates for distributions, you
may incur an adverse tax effect.

If you dispose of preferred securities between record dates for payments of
distributions, you will not receive a distribution for the period prior to the
disposition. Nevertheless, you will be required to include accrued but unpaid
distributions through the date of disposition as ordinary income. In addition,
the amount of the accrued but unpaid distribution will be subtracted from the
proceeds of the disposed preferred securities. Because the preferred securities
may trade at prices that do not fully reflect the value of accrued but unpaid
distributions, if you sell preferred securities between record dates for
distributions, you may recognize a capital loss for tax purposes as a result of
subtracting from the proceeds of the preferred securities the amount of the
accrued but unpaid distributions. This capital loss may not be available to
offset the ordinary income recognized as a result of the accrued but unpaid
distributions because, subject to limited exceptions, capital losses cannot be
applied to offset ordinary income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

S-11

USE OF PROCEEDS

Everest Capital Trust intends to use the proceeds from the sale of the
preferred securities in this offering to purchase a corresponding series of
junior subordinated debt securities issued by Everest Holdings. Everest
Holdings intends to use the net proceeds from its sale of those junior
subordinated debt securities, estimated to be $193,350,000 million after
deducting the underwriting commission and estimated offering expenses
($217,562,500 million if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised
in full), for general corporate purposes, including capital contributions to
its operating subsidiaries.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES OF EVEREST HOLDINGS

The following table sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed charges of
Everest Holdings for each of the periods indicated:

Nine Months
Ended September 30, Years Ended December 31,
------------------- --------------------------
2002 2001 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- -----

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(1) 4.9 1.2 1.6 6.0 73.4 121.2 127.9

--------
(1) For purposes of determining this ratio, "earnings" consist of consolidated
net income before federal income taxes plus fixed charges. "Fixed charges"
consist of interest expense on senior notes and revolving credit agreement
and that portion of operating leases that are representative of the
interest factor.

ACCOUNTING TREATMENT

Everest Capital Trust will be treated as a subsidiary of Everest Holdings
for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, Everest Capital Trust's
financial statements will be included in the consolidated financial statements
of Everest Holdings. The preferred securities will be presented as a separate
line item under total liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial
condition of Everest Holdings under the caption "Company Obligated Mandatorily
Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary Trust Holding Solely Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities of the Company" and appropriate disclosures about
the preferred securities will be included in the notes to the consolidated
financial statements. For financial reporting purposes, Everest Holdings will
record distributions payable on the preferred securities as a component of
interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations of Everest
Holdings.

In its future financial reports, Everest Holdings will: (1) present the
preferred securities on its consolidated financial statements of financial
condition as a separate line item entitled "Company Obligated Mandatorily
Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary Trust Holding Solely Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities of the Company" and (2) include in a footnote to
the financial statements disclosure that the sole assets of Everest Capital
Trust are the junior subordinated debt securities specifying the principal
amount, interest rate and maturity date of the junior subordinated debt
securities held.

S-12

CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth the consolidated capitalization of Everest
Holdings as of September 30, 2002 on an actual and as adjusted basis. The
"Actual" column reflects Everest Holdings' capitalization as of September 30,
2002 on a historical basis. The "As Adjusted" column reflects the issuance of
the preferred securities contemplated by this prospectus supplement (assuming
no exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option) and the application of
the net proceeds from this offering as described under the heading "Use of
Proceeds." The following data should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements of Everest Holdings and accompanying notes,
which are incorporated herein by reference.

September 30, 2002
--------------------
Actual As Adjusted
-------- -----------
(in millions)

Total debt less current portion:
8.5% Senior notes due 3/15/2005...................................................... $ 249.8 $ 249.8
8.75% Senior notes due 3/15/2010..................................................... 199.1 199.1
Revolving credit agreement borrowings................................................ 125.0 125.0
-------- --------
Total debt (less current portion).................................................... 573.9 573.9
Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts
holding solely junior subordinated debt securities(1).............................. -- 200.0
-------- --------
Total debt (less current portion) and minority interests............................. 573.9 773.9
-------- --------
Stockholder's Equity:
Common stock, par value: $0.01; 200 million shares authorized; 1,000 shares issued in
2002............................................................................... -- --
Additional paid-in capital........................................................... 259.4 259.4
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of deferred income taxes of $72.8 million
in 2002............................................................................ 135.3 135.3
Retained earnings.................................................................... 880.3 880.3
-------- --------
Total stockholder's equity........................................................... 1,275.1 1,275.1
-------- --------
Total capitalization................................................................. $1,849.0 $2,049.0
======== ========

--------
(1) As described in this prospectus supplement, the sole assets of the trust
issuing the preferred securities offered hereby will be the 7.85% junior
subordinated debt securities issued by Everest Holdings to Everest Capital
Trust. The junior subordinated debt securities will mature on November 15,
2032. Everest Holdings owns all the common securities of Everest Capital
Trust.

S-13

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF EVEREST HOLDINGS

The following selected consolidated financial data of Everest Holdings as of
and for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998 and 1997 were
derived from the consolidated financial statements of Everest Holdings, which
were audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The selected consolidated financial
data of Everest Holdings as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2002
and 2001 are derived from unaudited financial statements of Everest Holdings,
which, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments (consisting of
normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair statement of the data. The
results of operations for any interim period may not be indicative of results
of operations for the full year. The following financial data should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of Everest Holdings and
accompanying notes, which are incorporated herein by reference.

Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(unaudited) Years Ended December 31,
------------------ ------------------------------------------------
2002 2001 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(Dollars in millions)

Operating data:
Gross premiums written....... $1,911.1 $1,386.1 $1,849.8 $1,374.0 $1,141.8 $1,045.9 $1,075.0
Net premiums written......... 1,557.0 1,165.0 1,416.9 1,207.3 1,095.6 1,016.6 1,031.1
Net premiums earned.......... 1,366.1 1,060.4 1,333.5 1,162.6 1,071.5 1,068.0 1,049.8
Net investment income........ 194.7 201.4 265.9 271.4 253.0 244.9 228.5
Net realized capital (losses)
gains(1)................... (45.9) (1.7) (15.7) 0.3 (16.8) (0.8) 15.9
Total revenue................ 1,509.6 1,260.0 1,603.2 1,437.6 1,306.7 1,315.2 1,299.2
Losses and LAE incurred
(including catastrophes)... 967.0 889.5 1,079.2 878.2 771.6 778.4 765.4
Total catastrophe losses(2). 11.9 222.1 222.6 13.9 45.9 30.6 8.6
Commission, brokerage, taxes
and fees................... 333.1 288.1 393.6 267.4 286.0 274.6 274.8
Other underwriting expenses.. 46.0 40.9 55.3 50.3 48.3 49.6 51.7
Interest expense............. 31.9 35.3 46.0 39.4 1.5 -- --
Non-recurring restructure
expenses................... -- -- -- -- 2.8 -- --
Total expenses(3)............ 1,378.0 1,253.8 1,574.2 1,235.3 1,110.1 1,102.5 1,091.9
Income before taxes(3)....... 131.7 6.2 29.1 202.3 196.6 212.7 207.3
Income tax expense (benefit). 28.0 (14.1) (9.2) 43.8 38.5 47.5 52.3
Net income(3)................ $ 103.7 $ 20.3 $ 38.3 $ 158.5 $ 158.1 $ 165.2 $ 155.0
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Certain GAAP financial
ratios:(4)
Loss and LAE ratio........... 70.8 % 83.9 % 80.9 % 75.5 % 72.0 % 72.9 % 72.9%
Underwriting expense ratio... 27.7 31.0 33.7 27.3 31.5 30.3 31.1
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Combined ratio............... 98.5 % 114.9 % 114.6 % 102.8 % 103.5 % 103.2 % 104.0%
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Balance sheet data (at end of
period):
Total investments and cash... $4,871.3 $4,409.6 $4,469.8 $4,284.8 $4,139.2 $4,325.8 $4,163.3
Total assets................. 7,806.0 6,785.9 7,012.4 6,263.3 5,704.3 5,996.7 5,538.0
Loss and LAE reserves........ 4,531.1 4,135.1 4,274.3 3,785.7 3,647.0 3,800.0 3,437.8
Total liabilities............ 6,530.9 5,666.6 5,901.0 5,212.8 4,376.8 4,517.5 4,230.5
Stockholder's equity(5)...... 1,275.1 1,119.3 1,111.4 1,050.5 1,327.5 1,479.2 1,307.5

--------
(1) After-tax operating income, before after-tax net realized capital gains or
losses, was $133.5 million, $21.2 million, $48.5 million, $158.5 million,
$169.0 million, $165.7 million and $144.6 million for the periods ended
September 30, 2002 and 2001 and the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000,
1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.

S-14

(2) Catastrophe losses are net of reinsurance. A catastrophe is defined, for
purposes of the selected consolidated financial data, as an event that
causes a pre-tax loss on property exposures before reinsurance of at least
$5.0 million and has an event date of January 1, 1988 or later.
(3) Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.
(4) Loss ratio is the losses and LAE incurred as a percentage of net premiums
earned. Underwriting expense ratio is the commissions, brokerage, taxes,
fees and general expenses as a percentage of net premiums earned. Combined
ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and underwriting expense ratio.
(5) Excluding net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments,
stockholder's equity was $1,128.7 million, $1,006.8 million, $1,022.9
million, $985.3 million, $1,337.2 million, $1,281.6 million and $1,147.1
million as of September 30, 2002 and 2001 and December 31, 2001, 2000,
1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.

S-15

TERMS OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES

This summary of the material terms and provisions of the preferred
securities supplements the description of the terms and provisions of the
preferred securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus under the heading
"Description of the Trust Preferred Securities," to which description reference
is made. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the trust agreement, the Statutory Trust Act of the
State of Delaware and the Trust Indenture Act.

The trust agreement qualifies as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
JPMorgan Chase Bank acts as the property trustee under the trust agreement for
purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The
terms of the preferred securities are set forth in the trust agreement and
portions of the Trust Indenture Act. You should read the trust agreement, which
is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus form a part and which contains
important information regarding the preferred securities and the rights and
responsibilities of the property trustee.

General

The preferred securities will be issued pursuant to the terms of the trust
agreement. Under the trust agreement, Everest Capital Trust may issue up to
8,000,000 (9,000,000 if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in
full) preferred securities. The trust agreement does not permit Everest Capital
Trust to issue any securities other than the preferred securities and the
common securities of Everest Capital Trust. All of the common securities of
Everest Capital Trust, which have a total liquidation amount equal to at least
3% of Everest Capital Trust's total capital, will be owned by Everest Holdings.

The preferred securities rank equally with, and payments are made on a pro
rata basis with, the common securities of Everest Capital Trust. However, if an
event of default on the junior subordinated debt securities exists, the rights
of the holders of the common securities of Everest Capital Trust to receive
payments from Everest Capital Trust will be subordinated to the rights of the
holders of the preferred securities. Events that constitute an event of default
with respect to the junior subordinated debt securities are described below
under the heading "Terms of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities -- Events
of Default." An event of default does not entitle the holders of the preferred
securities to require the redemption of the preferred securities.

The preferred securities have no stated maturity but must be redeemed upon
the maturity of the junior subordinated debt securities or their earlier
redemption. The junior subordinated debt securities mature on November 15, 2032.

Everest Holdings will execute a guarantee agreement with respect to the
preferred securities. Everest Holdings' guarantee is held by the guarantee
trustee for the benefit of the holders of the preferred securities. Everest
Holdings' obligations under the guarantee agreement are subordinate to the
secured and senior debt of Everest Holdings. The guarantee does not cover
payment of distributions on the preferred securities, or amounts payable on
redemption or liquidation of the preferred securities, in the event Everest
Capital Trust does not have sufficient funds available to pay those
distributions or amounts.

The guarantee is described in more detail under the heading "Description of
the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee" in the accompanying prospectus.
However, in the aggregate, the following obligations of Everest Holdings
provide a full and unconditional guarantee of the amounts due on the preferred
securities:

. Everest Holdings' guarantee of the preferred securities;

. Everest Holdings' obligations under the junior subordinated debt
securities;

. Everest Holdings' obligations under the junior subordinated indenture;

S-16

. Everest Holdings' obligations under the trust agreement; and

. Everest Holdings' obligations under the expense agreement to pay all
costs, expenses, debts and liabilities of Everest Capital Trust, other
than with respect to the preferred securities.

Distributions

The preferred securities represent beneficial interests in Everest Capital
Trust. Everest Capital Trust's funds available for distribution to you, as a
holder of the preferred securities, will be limited to payments received from
Everest Holdings on the junior subordinated debt securities. If Everest
Holdings does not make a required payment on the junior subordinated debt
securities, Everest Capital Trust will not have sufficient funds to make the
related payment on the preferred securities. The payment of distributions, if
and to the extent Everest Capital Trust has funds legally available for the
payment of the distributions in cash sufficient to make the payments, is
guaranteed by Everest Holdings on a limited basis as described under
"Description of the Trust Preferred Securities Guarantee" in the accompanying
prospectus.

The following are the general distribution rights of the preferred
securities:

. Distributions on each of the preferred securities will accrue at the
annual rate of 7.85% of the stated liquidation amount of $25.

. Distributions on the preferred securities will be cumulative and will
accrue from November 14, 2002 and will be payable quarterly in arrears
on the 15th day of February, May, August and November of each year,
commencing February 15, 2003, when, as and if funds are available for
payment.

. Distributions payable for each full distribution period will be computed
by dividing the rate per annum by four. The amount of distributions
payable for any period less than a full period will be computed on the
basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the actual number of
days elapsed in a partial month in a period.

. If any date on which distributions are payable on the preferred
securities is not a business day, payment of the distributions payable
on that date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a business
day without any interest or other payment as a result of that delay,
except that, if that business day is in the next succeeding calendar
year, that payment will be made on the immediately preceding business
day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the date
the payment was originally payable.

So long as no event of default with respect to the junior subordinated debt
securities has occurred and is continuing, Everest Holdings has the right under
the junior subordinated indenture to defer the payment of interest on the
junior subordinated debt securities at any time or from time to time; provided,
that no extension period may exceed 20 consecutive quarters or may extend
beyond the stated maturity of the junior subordinated debt securities. As a
consequence of this type of election, quarterly distributions on the preferred
securities will be deferred by Everest Capital Trust during the extension
period. Distributions to which holders of the preferred securities are entitled
will accumulate additional distributions on the preferred securities at the
rate per year of 7.85% of the deferred distributions, compounded quarterly from
the relevant payment date for the distributions. The term "distributions" as
used in this prospectus supplement includes any additional distributions. Any
deferral of interest payment must end on one of the quarterly interest payment
dates.

During any period for which Everest Holdings has elected to defer interest
payments on the junior subordinated debt securities, the junior subordinated
indenture limits Everest Holdings' ability to pay or declare dividends with
respect to, or otherwise acquire, its capital stock, to make principal or
interest payments on junior debt or to make specified payments with respect to
related guarantees. In addition, during any period in which Everest Holdings
has elected to defer interest payments on the junior subordinated debt
securities, Everest Group may not declare or pay any dividend with respect to,
or otherwise acquire, its capital stock. These limitations are more fully
described below under the heading "Terms of Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities -- Restrictions on Specified Payments."

S-17

Prior to the termination of any period for which Everest Holdings has
elected to defer interest payments on the junior subordinated debt securities,
Everest Holdings may further extend the interest payment period; provided, that
no extension period may exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the
stated maturity of the junior subordinated debt securities. Upon the
termination of any extension period and the payment of all amounts then due,
Everest Holdings may elect to begin a new extension period. There is no
limitation on the number of times that Everest Holdings may elect to begin an
extension period. See "Terms of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities -- Option
to Extend Interest Payment Period" and "United States Federal Income Tax
Consequences -- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."

Everest Holdings has no current intention of exercising its right to defer
payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the junior
subordinated debt securities.

Each distribution on the preferred securities will be payable to the
holders, as they appear on the books and records of Everest Capital Trust, at
the close of business on the relevant record date, which will be 15 days prior
to the relevant payment date.

Optional Redemption of Preferred Securities

Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in part, of the junior
subordinated debt securities, whether at stated maturity or upon earlier
redemption as provided in the junior subordinated indenture, the proceeds from
the repayment or redemption will be applied by the property trustee to redeem
both preferred and common securities on a proportionate basis, upon not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days notice to the holders of the preferred securities
prior to the date fixed for repayment or redemption. The repayment or
redemption, as the case may be, will be at a redemption price, with respect to
the preferred securities, equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the
preferred securities plus accumulated and unpaid distributions on the preferred
securities to the date of redemption. See "Terms of the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities -- Redemption."

The junior subordinated debt securities are redeemable at the option of
Everest Holdings before their maturity at 100% of their principal amount plus
accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, referred to in this
prospectus supplement as the redemption price:

. in whole or in part, on one or more occasions any time on or after
November 14, 2007; and

. at any time, in whole, but not in part, within 90 days of the occurrence
and continuation of a tax event or an investment company event. A tax
event and an investment company event are more fully described under the
heading "Terms of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities -- Redemption"
in this prospectus supplement.

Events of Default

The trust agreement provides that any one or more of the following events
constitutes an event of default with respect to the preferred securities:

. An event of default under the junior subordinated indenture with respect
to the junior subordinated debt securities. See "Terms of the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities -- Events of Default;"

. Everest Capital Trust's failure, for a period of 30 days, to pay any
distribution on the preferred securities when due, subject to the right
of Everest Holdings to defer interest payments on the junior
subordinated debt securities and the resulting deferral of distributions
on the preferred securities;

. Everest Capital Trust's failure to pay the redemption price of any
preferred security when due;

. Everest Capital Trust's failure to observe or perform, in any material
respect, any other covenant contained in the trust agreement for a
period of 60 days after receiving written notice of the failure from the
holders of at least 33% in aggregate liquidation amount of the
outstanding preferred

S-18

securities; provided, that the 60-day period may be extended by the
holders of at least the same principal amount of the outstanding
preferred securities that had given the notice of the default, and the
holders will be deemed to have agreed to an extension so long as Everest
Capital Trust has initiated and is diligently pursuing corrective
action; and

. specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
property trustee if a successor property trustee has not been appointed
within 90 days.

The holder of common securities shall have no right to act with respect to
any event of default under the trust agreement until all events of default
under the trust agreement relating to the preferred securities have been cured,
waived or otherwise eliminated. Until an event of default regarding the
preferred securities has been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the
property trustee will be considered 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 under the trust
agreement.

If an event of default with respect to the junior subordinated debt
securities occurs and is continuing, and the indenture trustee or the holders
of not less than 33% in principal amount of the junior subordinated debt
securities outstanding fail to declare the principal amount of all of the
junior subordinated debt securities to be immediately due and payable, the
holders of at least 33% in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding
preferred securities will have the right to declare the principal amount
immediately due and payable by providing notice to Everest Holdings, the
property trustee and the indenture trustee.

In addition, if an event of default with respect to the junior subordinated
debt securities occurs and is continuing and is attributable to the failure of
Everest Holdings to pay interest or principal on the junior subordinated debt
securities when otherwise payable, any holder of preferred securities may
directly institute a legal proceeding against Everest Holdings to enforce these
rights without first suing the indenture trustee or any other person.

Everest Holdings and the administrative trustees are required to furnish
annually to the property trustee certificates to the effect that, to the best
knowledge of the individuals providing the certificates, Everest Holdings and
Everest Capital Trust are not in default under the trust agreement, or if there
has been a default, specifying the default and its status.

Distribution of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities Upon Dissolution of Everest
Capital Trust

Everest Holdings has the right to dissolve Everest Capital Trust at any time
and, after satisfaction of the liabilities of creditors of Everest Capital
Trust as provided by applicable law, cause the junior subordinated debt
securities to be distributed to the holders of the preferred securities in
liquidation of Everest Capital Trust.

Under current U.S. federal income tax law and interpretations, a
distribution of the junior subordinated debt securities upon liquidation of
Everest Capital Trust would not be a taxable event to holders of the preferred
securities. However, if any of the specified changes in, or interpretation of,
tax or regulatory law in the description of "tax event" under the heading
"Terms of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities -- Redemption" in this
prospectus supplement were to occur which would cause Everest Capital Trust to
be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to income received or
accrued on the junior subordinated debt securities (as the case would be if,
for example, Everest Capital Trust were treated as an association taxable as a
corporation), a distribution of the junior subordinated debt securities by
Everest Capital Trust could be a taxable event to Everest Capital Trust and the
holders of the preferred securities. See "United States Federal Income Tax
Consequences -- Distribution of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities Upon
Dissolution of Everest Capital Trust."

Liquidation Value

The amount payable on the preferred securities in the event of a dissolution
of Everest Capital Trust is $25 per preferred security plus accumulated and
unpaid distributions. This amount may be in the form of a

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distribution of a like amount of junior subordinated debt securities, unless
the distribution is determined by the property trustee to not be practical, in
which case trust property will be liquidated and Everest Capital Trust will be
dissolved in the manner determined by the property trustee. The term "like
amount" means:

. with respect to a redemption of any common or preferred securities,
common or preferred securities having a liquidation amount equal to that
portion of the principal amount of the junior subordinated debt
securities to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the
junior subordinated indenture, the proceeds of which will be used to pay
the redemption price of the securities; and

. with respect to a distribution of junior subordinated debt securities to
holders of common or preferred securities in connection with a
dissolution or liquidation of Everest Capital Trust, junior subordinated
debt securities having a principal amount equal to the liquidation
amount of the securities of the holder to whom the junior subordinated
debt securities are distributed.

See "Description of the Trust Preferred Securities -- Liquidation
Distribution Upon Dissolution" in the accompanying prospectus.

Voting Rights

The holders of the preferred securities will have no voting rights, except
with respect to any action that would materially and adversely affect the
powers, preferences or special rights of the preferred securities, whether by
amending the trust agreement, the guarantee agreement or otherwise, or to
dissolve, wind-up or terminate the trust, other than pursuant to the terms of
the trust agreement. The holders of the preferred securities, voting as a
class, would be entitled to vote on either of these types of proposals and
these proposals would be effective only if approved by the holders of at least
a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred securities.

In addition, so long as the property trustee holds the junior subordinated
debt securities on behalf of Everest Capital Trust, without the prior approval
of the holders of preferred securities, the trustees of Everest Capital Trust
may not:

. direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the indenture trustee with respect to proceedings
for any available remedies or the property trustee with respect to the
exercise of any trust or power with respect to the junior subordinated
debt securities;

. waive any default available under the junior subordinated indenture with
respect to the junior subordinated debt securities;

. cancel an acceleration of the principal of any junior subordinated debt
securities; or

. consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the junior
subordinated indenture or any junior subordinated debt securities where
consent is required.

In addition, the consent of each affected holder of the preferred securities
is required for any action which requires the consent of each affected holder
of the junior subordinated debt securities. Prior to taking any of the actions
described above, Everest Capital Trust must obtain an opinion of counsel
experienced in these matters to the effect that, as a result of the proposed
action, Everest Capital Trust will not be taxable as a corporation or
classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes.

Any required approval of the holders of the preferred securities may be
given at a meeting convened for that purpose or without a meeting and without
prior notice pursuant to a written consent. The property trustee will cause a
notice of any meeting at which holders of the preferred securities are entitled
to vote to be given to each holder of record of the preferred securities at
least 15 and not more than 90 days before the meeting.

No vote or consent of the holders of the preferred securities will be
required for Everest Capital Trust to redeem and cancel the securities in
accordance with the trust agreement.

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Listing of Preferred Securities

The preferred securities have been approved for listing on the New York
Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance. Trading of the
preferred securities is expected to commence within 30 days after they are
first issued. You should be aware that the listing of the preferred securities
will not necessarily ensure that a liquid trading market will be available for
the preferred securities or that you will be able to sell your preferred
securities at the price you paid for them. If Everest Capital Trust distributes
the junior subordinated debt securities, Everest Holdings will use its best
efforts to list the junior subordinated debt securities on the New York Stock
Exchange or any other exchange or quotation system on which the preferred
securities are then listed.

Global Securities

The preferred securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of
one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of DTC.

Upon the issuance of a global security, DTC or its nominee will credit, on
its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective number of
preferred securities represented by the global security. The accounts will be
designated by the underwriters or agents with respect to the preferred
securities. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be
limited to persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of
beneficial interests in the global security will be shown on, and the transfer
of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or
its nominee, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of
participants, with respect to interests of persons other than participants. The
laws of some states require that some purchasers of securities take physical
delivery of securities in definitive form. These limits and laws may impair the
ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the global
security, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole
owner or holder of the preferred securities represented by the global security
for all purposes under the trust agreement.

Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a global
security will not be entitled to have the preferred securities represented by
the global security registered in their names and will not receive or be
entitled to receive physical delivery of the preferred securities in definitive
form.

Distributions and other payments with respect to the preferred securities
registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be paid to DTC or its
nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global security
representing the preferred securities. None of the trustee, any paying agent,
the security registrar, Everest Holdings or Everest Capital Trust will have any
responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or
payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of the global
security for the preferred securities or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

Everest Holdings expects that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any
payment with respect to the preferred securities, will immediately credit
participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their
respective beneficial interest in the global security for the preferred
securities as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Everest Holdings also
expects that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the
global security held through its participants will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held
for the accounts of customers registered in "street name," and will be the
responsibility of the participants.

The trust agreement provides that if:

. DTC, as depositary for the preferred securities, notifies Everest
Holdings that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or if
DTC ceases to be eligible under the trust agreement and, in each case, a
successor depositary is not appointed by the issuer within 90 days of
written notice,

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. Everest Holdings determines that the preferred securities will no longer
be represented by global securities and executes and delivers to the
trustee a company order to this effect, or

. an event of default with respect to the junior subordinated debt
securities has occurred and is continuing,

the global securities may be exchanged for preferred securities in definitive
form of an equal aggregate number of preferred securities and aggregate
liquidation amount in authorized denominations.

Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent

JPMorgan Chase Bank will act as registrar, transfer agent and paying agent
for the preferred securities. JPMorgan Chase Bank is presently located at 450
West 33/rd/ Street, New York, New York 10001. The paying agent may resign as
paying agent upon 30 days' written notice to the administrative trustees and
the property trustee. In the event that JPMorgan Chase Bank is no longer the
paying agent, the administrative trustees will appoint a successor to act as
paying agent, which must be a bank or trust company.

Governing Law

The trust agreement and the preferred securities are governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware.

TERMS OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

General

This summary of the material terms and provisions of the junior subordinated
debt securities supplements the description of the terms and provisions of the
junior subordinated debt securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus
under the heading "Description of the Debt Securities," to which description
reference is made. This summary of the junior subordinated debt securities does
not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the junior subordinated indenture, as supplemented from time to
time, and the Trust Indenture Act.

The junior subordinated indenture qualifies as an indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act. JPMorgan Chase Bank acts as the indenture trustee for the junior
subordinated debt securities under the junior subordinated indenture for
purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The
terms of the junior subordinated debt securities are set forth in the junior
subordinated indenture, as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture, and
portions of the Trust Indenture Act. You should read the junior subordinated
indenture, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which
this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus form a part and
which contains important information regarding the junior subordinated debt
securities and the rights and responsibilities of the indenture trustee.

Concurrently with the issuance of the preferred securities, Everest Capital
Trust will invest the proceeds from the sale of the preferred securities,
together with the consideration paid by Everest Holdings for the common
securities, in the junior subordinated debt securities issued by Everest
Holdings. The junior subordinated debt securities will be issued in
denominations of $25 and integral multiples thereof. The junior subordinated
debt securities will mature on November 15, 2032, which date is referred to in
this prospectus supplement as the stated maturity of the junior subordinated
debt securities. The junior subordinated debt securities are not entitled to
the benefit of a sinking fund.

It is anticipated that, unless there is a dissolution of Everest Capital
Trust, each junior subordinated debt security will be held in the name of the
property trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of the preferred
securities and the common securities.

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Interest

From and after November 14, 2002, the junior subordinated debt securities
will bear interest accruing at an annual rate of 7.85% of the principal amount
of the junior subordinated debt securities, payable quarterly in arrears on the
15th day of February, May, August and November of each year, referred to in
this prospectus supplement as the interest payment dates, with the first
payment to be made on February 15, 2003. Interest payments are made to the
person in whose names the junior subordinated debt securities are registered,
subject to specified exceptions, at the close of business on the fifteenth day
next preceding the interest payment date.

The amount of interest payable for any full period shall be computed by
dividing the rate per annum by four. The amount of interest payable for any
partial period shall be computed on the basis of the number of days elapsed in
a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the actual number of days elapsed in
a partial month in a period. In the event that any date on which interest is
payable on the junior subordinated debt securities is not a business day, then
payment of the interest payable on that date will be made on the next
succeeding day that is a business day (without any interest or other payment in
respect of any delay), except that, if that business day is in the next
succeeding calendar year, that payment shall be made on the immediately
preceding business day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on the date that payment was originally payable.

Accrued interest that is not paid on the applicable interest payment date
will bear additional interest on the amount of the accrued interest (to the
extent permitted by law) at the rate per year of 7.85% of the accrued interest,
compounded quarterly, referred to in this prospectus supplement as additional
interest. The term "interest" as used in this prospectus supplement includes
quarterly interest payments, additional interest and the additional sums
described below, as applicable.

Option to Extend Interest Payment Period

So long as no event of default with respect to the junior subordinated debt
securities, as described below under "-- Events of Default," has occurred and
is continuing, Everest Holdings has the right under the junior subordinated
indenture at any time during the term of the junior subordinated debt
securities to defer the payment of interest at any time or from time to time
for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters with respect to each
extension period; provided, that no extension period may extend beyond the
stated maturity of the junior subordinated debt securities and the period for
any deferral of interest payments must end on one of the quarterly interest
payment dates. At the end of a period for which Everest Holdings has elected to
defer interest payments, Everest Holdings must pay all interest then accrued
and unpaid, together with any additional interest, to the extent permitted by
applicable law. During any period for which Everest Holdings has elected to
defer interest payments, interest will continue to accrue on the junior
subordinated debt securities, and corresponding distributions will continue to
accrue on the preferred securities, and holders of junior subordinated debt
securities and holders of preferred securities will be required to accrue
interest income for U.S. federal income tax purposes as described under the
heading "United States Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Interest Income and
Original Issue Discount."

During any period in which Everest Holdings has elected to defer interest
payments on the junior subordinated debt securities, Everest Holdings' ability
to make specified payments with respect to its capital stock and its debt
obligations, and Everest Group's ability to make specified payments with
respect to its capital stock, is restricted as described below under the
heading "-- Restrictions on Specified Payments."

Prior to the termination of any period for which Everest Holdings has
elected to defer interest payments, Everest Holdings may elect to further defer
interest payments; provided, that the deferral of interest payments may not
exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the stated maturity of the
junior subordinated debt securities. There is no limitation on the number of
times that Everest Holdings may elect to defer interest payments on the junior
subordinated debt securities, except that no extension period may extend beyond
the stated maturity of the junior subordinated debt securities. Upon the
termination of any deferral period and the payment of all amounts then due,
Everest Holdings may elect to begin a new deferral period. No interest shall be

S-23

due and payable during any period for which Everest Holdings has elected to
defer interest payments, except at the end of the extension period.

Everest Holdings must give Everest Capital Trust and the indenture trustee
notice of its election to defer interest payments on the junior subordinated
debt securities at least one business day prior to the earlier of:

. the date the distributions on the preferred securities would have been
payable except for Everest Holdings' election to defer interest payments
on the junior subordinated debt securities; or

. the date the property trustee is 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 date or the date the
distributions are payable.

The indenture trustee will give notice of Everest Holdings' election to
defer interest payments on the junior subordinated debt securities to Everest
Capital Trust, and the administrative trustees will give notice of the deferral
to the holders of the preferred securities.

Everest Holdings has no current intention of exercising its right to defer
payments of interest on the junior subordinated debt securities.

Restrictions on Specified Payments

During any period in which Everest Holdings has elected to defer interest
payments on the junior subordinated debt securities or is in default under the
terms of the junior subordinated debt securities or the guarantee, neither it
nor its subsidiaries will be permitted to:

. declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of Everest
Holdings' capital stock;

These restrictions do not apply to:

. repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of capital stock in
connection with employment contracts, benefit plans or other similar
arrangements, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder
stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of, or securities
convertible into or exercisable for, its capital stock as consideration
in specified acquisition transactions;

. exchanges or conversions of any capital stock or indebtedness for any
other capital stock and the purchase of any fractional interests in
connection with the exchange or conversion;

. any dividend in connection with any rights plan or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant to any rights plan; or

S-24

. any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights
where the stock to be issued is the same stock as that on which the
dividend is being paid or ranks equally with or junior in interest to
the stock to be issued.

Events of Default

The junior subordinated indenture provides that any one or more of the
following events constitutes an event of default with respect to the junior
subordinated debt securities:

. Everest Holdings' failure, for a period of 30 days, to pay any interest
on the junior subordinated debt securities when due, subject to Everest
Holdings' right to defer interest payments;

. Everest Holdings' failure to pay any principal or premium, if any, on
the junior subordinated debt securities when due, whether at maturity,
upon redemption, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

. Everest Holdings' failure to observe or perform any other covenant
contained in the junior subordinated indenture for a period of 60 days
after receiving written notice of the failure from the indenture trustee
or holders of at least 33% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of
the junior subordinated debt securities; provided, that the 60-day
period may be extended by either the indenture trustee or the indenture
trustee and the holders of at least the same principal amount of the
outstanding junior subordinated debt securities that had given the
notice of the default, and the indenture trustee and the holders, as the
case may be, will be deemed to have agreed to an extension so long as
Everest Holdings has initiated and is diligently pursuing corrective
action;

. specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Everest
Holdings; or

. Everest Group fails to observe or perform its covenant not to make the
specified payments described above under the heading "-- Restrictions on
Specified Payments."

The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
junior subordinated debt securities have the right to direct the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
indenture trustee. The indenture trustee or the holders of not less than 33% in
aggregate outstanding principal amount of junior subordinated debt securities
may declare the principal due and payable immediately upon an event of default
with respect to the junior subordinated debt securities, and, if the indenture
trustee or the holders of the junior subordinated debt securities fail to make
the declaration, the holders of at least 33% in aggregate liquidation amount of
the preferred securities shall have this right. The holders of a majority in
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the junior subordinated debt
securities may annul the declaration and waive the default if the default,
other than the non-payment of the principal of which has become due solely by
the acceleration, has been cured or waived and a sum sufficient to pay all
matured installments of interest and principal due other than by acceleration
has been paid or deposited with the indenture trustee. If the holders of the
junior subordinated debt securities fail to annul the declaration and waive the
default, the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the
preferred securities shall have this right.

The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
junior subordinated debt securities and the holders of a majority in aggregate
liquidation amount of the preferred securities may waive any past default,
except a default in the payment of principal or interest, unless the default
has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest
and principal due other than by acceleration has been paid or deposited with
the indenture trustee, or a default in respect of a covenant or provision which
under the junior subordinated indenture cannot be modified or amended without
the consent of the holder of each outstanding junior subordinated debt security.

Everest Holdings is required to furnish annually to the indenture trustee a
certificate to the effect that, to the best knowledge of the officers providing
the certificate, it is not in default under the junior subordinated indenture
or, if there has been a default, specifying the default and the status.

S-25

Subordination

The junior subordinated debt securities are unsecured obligations of Everest
Holdings, subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all
secured and senior debt of Everest Holdings to the extent provided in the
junior subordinated indenture. As a result, in the event of the bankruptcy,
liquidation or reorganization of Everest Holdings, or upon acceleration of the
junior subordinated debt securities due to an event of default, Everest
Holdings' assets will be available to pay its obligations on the junior
subordinated debt securities only after all secured and senior debt has been
paid in full. There may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due
on any or all of the junior subordinated debt securities then outstanding.

No payments in respect of junior subordinated debt securities may be made if
there shall have occurred and be continuing a default in any payment of any
principal, interest or premium on any senior debt, whether at maturity, at a
date fixed for prepayment or by declaration of acceleration.

The term "debt" means with respect to any person, whether recourse is to all
or a portion of the assets of the person and whether or not contingent:

. every obligation of the person for money borrowed;

. every obligation of the person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or
other similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection
with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses;

. every reimbursement obligation of the person with respect to letters of
credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued for the
account of the person;

. every obligation of the person issued or assumed as the deferred
purchase price of property or services, but excluding trade accounts
payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business;

. every capital lease obligation of the person;

. all indebtedness for claims in respect of derivative products, including
interest rate, foreign exchange rate and commodity forward contracts,
options and swaps and similar arrangements;

. every obligation of the type described above of another person and all
dividends of another person the payment of which, in either case, the
person has guaranteed or is responsible or liable, directly or
indirectly, as obligor or otherwise; and

. any renewals, extensions, refundings, amendments or modifications of any
obligations of the type described above.

The term "senior debt" means the principal of and interest and premium, if
any, on debt, whether incurred on or prior to the date of the junior
subordinated indenture or later incurred, unless, in the instrument creating or
evidencing the debt or pursuant to which the debt is outstanding, it is
provided that the obligations are not superior in right of payment to the
junior subordinated debt securities or to other debt which is equal with, or
subordinated to, the junior subordinated debt securities; provided, that senior
debt does not include:

. any debt of Everest Holdings which, when incurred and without respect to
any election under Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, was without
recourse to Everest Holdings;

. any debt of Everest Holdings to any of its subsidiaries;

. debt to any employee of Everest Holdings;

. trade accounts payable of Everest Holdings;

. accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business; or

. any other debt securities issued pursuant to the junior subordinated
indenture.

S-26

Everest Holdings is a holding company that conducts substantially all of its
business through its subsidiaries. The junior subordinated debt securities are
effectively subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of Everest
Holdings' subsidiaries. As a result, in the event of the bankruptcy,
liquidation or reorganization of Everest Holdings, or upon acceleration of the
junior subordinated debt securities due to an event of default, assets of
Everest Holdings' subsidiaries will be available to pay obligations under the
junior subordinated debt securities only after all creditors of the
subsidiaries have been paid in full. Accordingly, holders of the junior
subordinated debt securities should look only to the assets of Everest Holdings
for payments on the junior subordinated debt securities. In addition, dividends
and other permitted payments from Everest Re are expected to be the sole source
of funds to meet the financial obligations of Everest Holdings and to a make
payments under the junior subordinated debt securities. The payment of
dividends by Everest Re to Everest Holdings is limited by the Delaware
Insurance Code and the Delaware General Corporation Law.

In addition, the junior subordinated indenture does not prohibit or limit
the incurrence of secured debt or the incurrence of other indebtedness and
liabilities by Everest Holdings or its subsidiaries. Everest Holdings may from
time to time incur additional indebtedness constituting senior debt.

Additional Sums

If Everest Capital Trust is required to pay any additional taxes, and so
long as no event of default has occurred and is continuing, duties or other
governmental charges, referred to in this prospectus supplement as additional
sums, as a result of a tax event, Everest Holdings will pay as additional
amounts on the junior subordinated debt securities these amounts as shall be
required so that the distributions payable by Everest Capital Trust shall not
be reduced as a result of these additional taxes, duties or other governmental
charges. These amounts will be paid only if Everest Holdings does not elect to
either:

. redeem the junior subordinated debt securities and cause a mandatory
redemption of Everest Capital Trust securities within 90 days of the
corresponding tax event; or

. terminate Everest Capital Trust and, after satisfaction of the
liabilities of the creditors of Everest Capital Trust, cause the junior
subordinated debt securities to be distributed to the holders of Everest
Capital Trust securities in liquidation of Everest Capital Trust.

Redemption

Everest Holdings can redeem the junior subordinated debt securities before
their maturity at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid
interest to the fixed date for redemption:

. in whole or in part, on one or more occasions any time on or after
November 14, 2007, and

. at any time, in whole, but not in part, within 90 days of the occurrence
and continuation of a tax event or an investment company event.

Tax Event. For purposes of the redemption described above, a tax event means
that Everest Capital Trust has received an opinion of counsel experienced in
these types of matters to the effect that, as a result of:

. any amendment to or change in, including any announced prospective
change in, the laws or any regulations of the United States or any
political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, or

. any judicial decision or any official administrative pronouncement,
including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum or
field service advice, or regulatory procedure, referred to in this
prospectus supplement collectively as an administrative action,
regardless of whether the judicial decision or administrative action is
issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving Everest Holdings
or Everest Capital Trust and whether or not it is subject to review or
appeal,

S-27

which amendment, change, administrative action or decision is enacted,
promulgated or announced, and on or after the date of the issuance of
Everest Capital Trust's preferred securities, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that:

. Everest Capital Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the receipt of
the opinion of counsel, subject to United States federal income tax with
respect to income received or accrued on the junior subordinated debt
securities,

. interest payable by Everest Holdings or the original issue discount
accruing on the junior subordinated debt securities is not, or will not
be within 90 days of the receipt of the opinion of counsel, deductible
by Everest Holdings, in whole or in part, for United States federal
income tax purposes, or

. Everest Capital Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the receipt of
the opinion of counsel, subject to more than a de minimis amount of
other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.

Investment Company Event. For purposes of the redemption described above, an
investment company event means that Everest Capital Trust has received an
opinion of counsel experienced in these types of matters to the effect that, as
a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a written
change, including any announced prospective change, in the interpretation or
application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental
agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that
Everest Capital Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is
required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, which change or
prospective change becomes effective or would become effective on or after the
date of the issuance of the preferred securities.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 45 days but not more than
75 days before the redemption date to each registered holder of junior
subordinated debt securities to be redeemed at its registered address. Unless
Everest Holdings defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the
redemption date interest shall cease to accrue on the junior subordinated debt
securities. In the event any junior subordinated debt securities are called for
redemption, neither Everest Holdings nor the indenture trustee will be required
to register the transfer of or exchange the junior subordinated debt securities
to be redeemed during a period beginning 15 days before the redemption date.

Distribution of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities upon Dissolution of Trust

Under specified circumstances involving the dissolution of Everest Capital
Trust, junior subordinated debt securities may be distributed to the holders of
the preferred securities in liquidation of Everest Capital Trust after
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of Everest Capital Trust as provided
by applicable law. If distributed to holders of preferred securities in
liquidation, the junior subordinated debt securities will initially be issued
in the form of one or more global securities and DTC, or any successor
depositary for the preferred securities, will act as depositary for the junior
subordinated debt securities. It is anticipated that the depositary
arrangements for the junior subordinated debt securities would be substantially
identical to those in effect for the preferred securities. If the junior
subordinated debt securities are distributed to the holders of preferred
securities upon the liquidation of Everest Capital Trust, Everest Holdings will
use its best efforts to list the junior subordinated debt securities on the New
York Stock Exchange or any other exchange or quotation system on which the
preferred securities are then listed. There can be no assurance as to the
market price of any junior subordinated debt securities that may be distributed
to the holders of preferred securities. For a description of DTC and the terms
of the depositary matters, see "Description of the Debt Securities -- Global
Securities" in the accompanying prospectus.

Governing Law

The junior subordinated indenture and the junior subordinated debt
securities are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the
State of New York.

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UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

The following summary describes the material U.S. federal income and estate
tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the preferred
securities. This summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income
and estate tax that may be relevant to a holder in light of the holder's
particular circumstances or to special classes of holders, such as dealers in
securities or currencies, financial institutions, regulated investment
companies, tax-exempt entities, traders in securities that elect to use a
mark-to-market method of accounting, persons liable for alternative minimum
tax, insurance companies, persons holding preferred securities as part of a
straddle, hedge, conversion transaction or other integrated investment, or
persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

If a partnership or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal
income tax purposes holds preferred securities, the tax consequences to each
partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities
of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding preferred
securities, you should consult your own tax advisor.

The discussion below is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, referred to in this prospectus supplement as the "Code", the U.S.
Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code, and judicial decisions and
administrative interpretations now in effect, all of which are subject to
change, possibly on a retroactive basis.

YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO
YOU OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES IN
LIGHT OF YOUR OWN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES, AS WELL AS THE STATE, LOCAL AND
FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE
PREFERRED SECURITIES.

Classification of Everest Capital Trust

Under current law and assuming full compliance with the terms of the trust
agreement, Everest Capital Trust will be classified as a grantor trust for U.S.
federal income tax purposes and not as an association taxable as a corporation.
As a result, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, you generally will be
treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the junior subordinated
debt securities. Accordingly, you will be treated as receiving your
proportionate share of the interest income or original issue discount that is
paid or accrued on the junior subordinated debt securities.

Classification of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities

Everest Holdings intends to take the position that the junior subordinated
debt securities will be classified for U.S. federal income tax purposes as
indebtedness of Everest Holdings. Everest Holdings, Everest Capital Trust and
you (through your purchase of a beneficial interest in the preferred
securities) agree to treat the junior subordinated debt securities as
indebtedness of Everest Holdings for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The
remainder of this discussion assumes that the junior subordinated debt
securities will be classified as indebtedness of Everest Holdings for U.S.
federal income tax purposes.

U.S. Holders

Except as otherwise stated, this summary deals only with preferred
securities held as capital assets by a holder who or which (1) purchases the
preferred securities upon original issuance at their issue price and (2) is a
U.S. holder. For purposes of this summary, a "U.S. holder" means a beneficial
owner of a preferred security that is:

. an individual citizen or resident of the United States;

S-29

. a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal
income tax purposes which is created or organized in or under the laws
of the U.S. or any political subdivision thereof;

. an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax
regardless of its source; or

. a trust which is either subject to the supervision of a court within the
U.S. and the control of one or more U.S. persons, or has a valid
election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be
treated as a U.S. person.

Interest Income and Original Issue Discount

Under the Code and U.S. Treasury regulations, if a debt instrument is issued
at a price equal to its stated redemption price at maturity (or at a price that
is less than its stated redemption price at maturity by no more than the
statutory de minimis amount), interest is payable at least annually at a single
fixed rate and the instrument contains terms and conditions that make the
nonpayment of interest no more than a remote contingency, the instrument will
not be considered to be issued with original issue discount, referred to in
this prospectus supplement as "OID".

It is anticipated that the junior subordinated debt securities will not be
issued with an issue price that is less than their stated redemption price at
maturity by more than the statutory de minimis amount. Further, Everest
Holdings believes that the likelihood of it exercising its option to defer
payments of interest is remote based on, among other things, Everest Holdings'
and Everest Group's inability, if the deferral option is exercised, to pay a
dividend, to engage in specified capital transactions with respect to its
stock, and Everest Holdings' inability, if the deferral option is exercised, to
repay, repurchase or redeem, or make any payments of interest, principal or
premium on, any debt securities that rank equally with or junior to the junior
subordinated debt securities. Based on this conclusion, Everest Holdings has
taken the position that the junior subordinated debt securities should not be
treated as issued with OID unless and until it exercises its option to defer
payment of interest, so that the stated interest on the junior subordinated
debt securities will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income at the time
it is paid or accrued in accordance with your regular method of tax accounting.

If, however, Everest Holdings exercises its right to defer payments of
interest on the junior subordinated debt securities, the junior subordinated
debt securities will be treated as reissued with OID at that time. As a result,
you will be subject to the special OID rules described below. Once the junior
subordinated debt securities become OID instruments, they will be taxed as OID
instruments for as long as they remain outstanding. Furthermore, it is possible
that the IRS could assert that the junior subordinated debt securities were
initially issued with OID. If the IRS were successful in this regard, you would
be subject to the special OID rules described below regardless of whether the
option to defer payments of interest on the junior subordinated debt securities
is exercised. Under the OID economic accrual rules, the following would occur:

. regardless of your method of accounting, you would accrue an amount of
interest income each year using a constant yield method of accrual
whether or not interest is paid;

. the actual cash payments of interest you receive on the junior
subordinated debt securities would not be reported separately as taxable
income;

. any amount of OID included in your gross income with respect to the
junior subordinated debt securities would increase your tax basis in the
preferred securities; and

. the amount of distributions you receive in respect of accrued OID would
reduce your tax basis in the preferred securities.

Because the junior subordinated debt securities are debt for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, you will not be entitled to a dividends-received deduction
with respect to any income you recognize on the preferred securities.

S-30

Distribution of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities Upon Dissolution of Everest
Capital Trust

The junior subordinated debt securities held by Everest Capital Trust may be
distributed to you in exchange for your preferred securities if Everest Capital
Trust is dissolved before the maturity date of the junior subordinated debt
securities. Under current law, except as described below, this type of
distribution from a grantor trust would not be taxable. Upon this type of a
distribution, you will receive your proportionate share of the junior
subordinated debt securities previously held indirectly through Everest Capital
Trust. Your holding period and total tax basis in the junior subordinated debt
securities will include the holding period and total tax basis that you had in
your preferred securities immediately before the distribution. If, however,
Everest Capital Trust is treated as an association taxable as a corporation and
Everest Holdings elects to distribute the junior subordinated debt securities
to you at that time, the distribution would be taxable to you and Everest
Capital Trust.

If you receive junior subordinated debt securities in exchange for your
preferred securities, you would accrue interest in respect of the junior
subordinated debt securities in the same manner described above under the
heading "-- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."

Sales or Redemptions of Preferred Securities

If you sell your preferred securities, including a redemption for cash, you
generally will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between
the amount realized on the sale or redemption of the preferred securities (not
including amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest that you did not
previously include in income, which would be taxable as ordinary income) and
your adjusted tax basis in the preferred securities sold or redeemed. Your
adjusted tax basis in the preferred securities generally will equal the cost of
the preferred securities to and increased by any accrued OID and decreased by
any payment received on the preferred securities if the OID rules described
above under the heading "-- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount" apply.

Your gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss, provided that you held the
preferred securities as a capital asset, and generally will be a long-term
capital gain or loss if, at the time of disposition, you held the preferred
securities for more than one year. Long-term capital gains of individuals are
currently subject to a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 20% where the
property is held for more than one year, and 18% where the property is held for
more than five years. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to
specified limitations.

The preferred securities may trade at a price that does not fully reflect
the value of accrued but unpaid interest with respect to the underlying junior
subordinated debt securities. If you dispose of the preferred securities
between record dates for payments of distributions, you will nevertheless be
required to include accrued but unpaid interest on the junior subordinated debt
securities through the date of disposition in income as ordinary income and to
subtract that amount from the proceeds of the disposition of the preferred
securities. You may recognize a capital loss to the extent that the proceeds of
the disposition are less than your basis in the preferred securities. The
deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

United States Alien Holders

This subsection describes the tax consequences to a United States alien
holder. You are a United States alien holder if you are the beneficial owner of
a preferred security and are, for United States federal income tax purposes:

. a nonresident alien individual,

. a foreign corporation,

. a foreign partnership, or

S-31

. an estate or trust that in either case is not subject to United States
federal income tax on a net income basis on income or gain from a
preferred security.

If you are a United States holder, this subsection does not apply to you.

Under United States federal income and estate tax law, and subject to the
discussion of backup withholding below, if you are a United States alien holder
of a preferred security:

. Everest Capital Trust and other U.S. payors generally will not be
required to deduct United States withholding tax from payments of
principal, premium, if any, and interest, including OID, to you if, in
the case of payments of interest:

. you do not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Everest Holdings
entitled to vote,

. you are not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to
Everest Holdings through stock ownership, and

. the U.S. payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that
you are a United States person and:

. you have furnished to the U.S. payor an Internal Revenue Service
Form W-8BEN or an acceptable substitute form upon which you
certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are a non-United
States person,

. in the case of payments made outside the United States to you at
an offshore account (generally, an account maintained by you at a
bank or other financial institution at any location outside the
United States), you have furnished to the U.S. payor
documentation that establishes your identity and your status as a
non-United States person,

. the U.S. payor has received a withholding certificate (furnished
on an appropriate Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or an
acceptable substitute form) from a person claiming to be:

. a withholding foreign partnership (generally a foreign
partnership that has entered into an agreement with the
Internal Revenue Service to assume primary withholding
responsibility with respect to distributions and guaranteed
payments it makes to its partners),

. a qualified intermediary (generally a non-United States
financial institution or clearing organization or a non-United
States branch or office of a United States financial
institution or clearing organization that is a party to a
withholding agreement with the Internal Revenue Service), or

. a U.S. branch of a non-United States bank or of a non-United
States insurance company,

and the withholding foreign partnership, qualified intermediary
or U.S. branch has received documentation upon which it may rely
to treat the payment as made to a non-United States person in
accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations (or, in the case of a
qualified intermediary, accordance with its agreement with the
Internal Revenue Service),

. the U.S. payor receives a statement from a securities clearing
organization, bank or other financial institution that holds
customers' securities in the ordinary course of its trade or
business,

. certifying to the U.S. payor under penalties of perjury that
an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or an acceptable
substitute form has been received from you by it or by a
similar financial institution between it and you, and

. to which is attached a copy of the Internal Revenue Service
Form W-8BEN or acceptable substitute form, or

S-32

. the U.S. payor otherwise possesses documentation upon which it
may rely to treat the payment as made to a non-United States
person in accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations;

. no deduction for any United States federal withholding tax will be made
from any gain that you realize on the sale or exchange of your preferred
security.

Further, a preferred security held by an individual who at death is not a
citizen or resident of the United States will not be includible in the
individual's gross estate for United States federal estate tax purposes if:

. the decedent did not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock of Everest Holdings
entitled to vote at the time of death and

. the income on the preferred security would not have been effectively
connected with a United States trade or business of the decedent at the
same time.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, if you are a noncorporate United States holder, Everest Capital
Trust and other payors are required to report to the Internal Revenue Service
all payments of principal, any premium and interest, including OID, if any, on
your preferred security. In addition, Everest Capital Trust and other payors
are required to report to the Internal Revenue Service any payment of proceeds
of the sale of your preferred security before maturity within the United
States. Additionally, backup withholding will apply to any payments, including
payments of OID, if you fail to provide an accurate taxpayer identification
number, or you are notified by the Internal Revenue Service that you have
failed to report all interest and dividends required to be shown on your
federal income tax returns.

In general, if you are a United States alien holder, payments of principal,
premium or interest, including OID, made by us and other payors to you will not
be subject to backup withholding and information reporting, provided that the
certification requirements described above under the heading "-- United States
Alien Holders" are satisfied or you otherwise establish an exemption. However,
Everest Capital Trust and other payors are required to report payments of
interest on your preferred securities on Internal Revenue Service Form 1042-S
even if the payments are not otherwise subject to information reporting
requirements. In addition, payment of the proceeds from the sale of preferred
securities effected at a United States office of a broker will not be subject
to backup withholding and information reporting provided that:

. the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are
a United States person and you have furnished to the broker:

. an appropriate Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or an acceptable
substitute form upon which you certify, under penalties of perjury,
that you are not a United States person, or

. other documentation upon which it may rely to treat the payment as
made to a non-United States person in accordance with U.S. Treasury
regulations, or

. you otherwise establish an exemption.

If you fail to establish an exemption and the broker does not possess adequate
documentation of your status as a non-United States person, the payments may be
subject to information reporting and backup withholding. However, backup
withholding will not apply with respect to payments made to an offshore account
maintained by you unless the broker has actual knowledge that you are a United
States person.

In general, payment of the proceeds from the sale of preferred securities
effected at a foreign office of a broker will not be subject to information
reporting or backup withholding. However, a sale effected at a foreign office
of a broker will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding if:

. the proceeds are transferred to an account maintained by you in the
United States,

S-33

. the payment of proceeds or the confirmation of the sale is mailed to you
at a United States address, or

. the sale has some other specified connection with the United States as
provided in U.S. Treasury regulations,

In addition, payment of the proceeds from the sale of preferred securities
effected at a foreign office of a broker will be subject to information
reporting if the broker is:

. a United States person,

. a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes,

. a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively
connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business for a
specified three-year period, or

. a foreign partnership, if at any time during its tax year:

. one or more of its partners are "U.S. persons", as defined in U.S.
Treasury regulations, who in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the
income or capital interest in the partnership, or

. such foreign partnership is engaged in the conduct of a United States
trade or business,

unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are
a United States person and the documentation requirements described above
(relating to a sale of preferred securities effected at a United States office
of a broker) are met or you otherwise establish an exemption. Backup
withholding will apply if the sale is subject to information reporting and the
broker has actual knowledge that you are a United States person.

S-34

ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

Before authorizing an investment in the preferred securities, fiduciaries of
any:

. pension, profit sharing or other employee benefit plan subject to the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, referred to in this
prospectus supplement as ERISA;

. plan described in Section 4975(e)(1) of the Code, including an
individual retirement account or a Keogh plan, subject to Section 4975
of the Code;

. plan subject to provisions under applicable federal, state, local,
non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to the provisions
of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, referred to in this
prospectus supplement as similar laws; or

. entity investing with the assets of any of the above (such as a
collective investment fund);

which are referred to in this prospectus supplement as plans, should
consider, among other matters:

. the fiduciary standards of ERISA (including its prudence and
diversification requirements) or of similar laws;

. whether the fiduciaries have authority to make an investment in the
preferred securities under the applicable plan investment policies and
governing instruments; and

. rules under ERISA, the Code and similar laws that may prohibit plan
fiduciaries from causing a plan to engage in a "prohibited transaction."
In this regard, plan fiduciaries should consider, among other factors,
that each plan investing in the preferred securities will be deemed to
have represented that the plan's purchase of the preferred securities is
covered by one or more prohibited transaction exemptions.

Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit plans from, among
other things, engaging in specified transactions involving "plan assets" with
persons who are "parties in interest" under ERISA or "disqualified persons"
under the Code, referred to in this prospectus supplement as parties in
interest, with respect to these plans. 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 these persons, unless exemptive relief is
available under an applicable statutory, regulatory or administrative
exemption. Employee benefit plans that are governmental plans (as defined in
Section 3(32) of ERISA) and specified church plans (as defined in Section 3(33)
of ERISA) are not subject to the requirements of ERISA or Section 4975 of the
Code; however, these plans may be subject to similar laws.

The Department of Labor has issued a regulation, referred to in this
prospectus supplement as the plan assets regulation, concerning the definition
of what constitutes the assets of a plan subject to ERISA and the Code. The
plan assets regulation provides that, as a general rule, the underlying assets
and properties of corporations, partnerships, trusts and entities in which a
plan holds an "equity interest" will be deemed, for purposes of ERISA, to be
"plan assets" of the investing plan unless there is an applicable exception for
its investment. 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; the definition specifically includes a beneficial interest in
a trust.

One exception under the plan assets regulation is for an equity investment
which is a "publicly-offered security." A publicly-offered security is a
security that:

. is freely transferable,

. is part of a class of securities that is owned by 100 or more investors
independent of the issuer and of one another; and

S-35

. is either: (1) part of a class of securities registered under Section
12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or (2) sold to
the plan as part of an offering of securities to the public pursuant to
an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and
the class of securities of which the security is part is registered
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 within 120 days (or a later
time as may be allowed by the SEC) after the end of the fiscal year of
the issuer during which the offering of such securities to the public
occurred.

It is expected that the preferred securities will meet the criteria of
"publicly-offered securities" under the plan assets regulation and, therefore,
the assets held by Everest Capital Trust should not be considered "plan assets"
for ERISA purposes. It also is expected that the preferred securities will be
held by at least 100 independent investors at the conclusion of the offering,
there are no restrictions imposed on the transfer of the preferred securities
and the preferred securities will be sold as part of an offering pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, and then
will be timely registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Regardless of whether the assets of Everest Capital Trust are deemed to be
"plan assets" of plans investing in the preferred securities, the purchase and
holding of the preferred securities with plan assets could itself result in a
prohibited transaction. In that regard, the Department of Labor has issued
prohibited transaction class exemptions that may provide exemptive relief for
direct or indirect prohibited transactions resulting from the purchase or
holding of the preferred securities. Those class exemptions include:

. PTCE 96-23 (for certain transactions determined by in-house asset
managers);

. PTCE 91-38 (for certain transactions involving bank collective
investment funds);

. PTCE 95-60 (for certain transactions involving insurance company general
accounts);

. PTCE 90-1 (for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled
separate accounts); and

. PTCE 84-14 (for certain transactions determined by independent qualified
asset managers);

In light of the prohibitions of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code and similar
laws, the preferred securities may not be purchased or held by any plan, unless
the purchase and holding is covered by one of the prohibited transaction class
exemptions set forth above, or another applicable exemption. If a purchaser or
holder of the preferred securities that is a plan elects to rely on an
exemption other than a prohibited transaction class exemption, Everest Capital
Trust may require a satisfactory opinion of counsel or other evidence with
respect to the availability of such exemption for such purchase and holding.
Any purchaser or holder of the preferred securities that is a plan or is
purchasing such securities on behalf of or with "plan assets" of any plan will
be deemed to have represented by its purchase and holding thereof that the
purchase and holding of the preferred securities (1) satisfies the requirements
of, and is entitled to full exemptive relief under a prohibited transaction
class exemption set forth above or another applicable exemption or (2) will not
result in a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code or a violation of
any similar laws.

The foregoing discussion is general in nature and is not intended to be
inclusive. Fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the preferred
securities on behalf of or with "plan assets" of any plan should consult with
their counsel, prior to any such purchase, regarding the potential
applicability of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code and any similar laws to such
investment and the availability of an applicable exemption.

S-36

UNDERWRITING

Salomon Smith Barney Inc. is acting as lead manager of the offering and,
together with Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, as representatives of the
underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the
underwriting agreement, which is incorporated by reference into the
registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, each
underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase, and Everest Capital
Trust has agreed to sell to that underwriter, the number of preferred
securities set forth opposite the underwriter's name.

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

Salomon Smith Barney, Inc............ 1,252,500
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.... 1,252,500
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated................ 1,200,000
UBS Warburg LLC...................... 1,200,000
Wachovia Securities Inc.............. 1,200,000
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.............. 200,000
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown Inc........ 200,000
Goldman, Sachs & Co.................. 200,000
Lehman Brothers, Inc................. 200,000
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc............. 50,000
Banc of America Securities LLC....... 50,000
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc............ 50,000
CIBC World Markets Corp.............. 50,000
Cochran, Caronia & Co................ 50,000
H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc.... 50,000
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc......... 50,000
Legg Mason Wood Walker,
Incorporated....................... 50,000
Prudential Securities Incorporated... 50,000
Quick & Reilly, Inc.................. 50,000
RBC Dain Rauscher Inc................ 50,000
Sandler O'Neal & Partners, L.P....... 50,000
TD Waterhouse, Inc................... 50,000
US Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc......... 50,000
Wells Fargo Van Kasper, LLC.......... 50,000

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

Advest Inc........................ 15,000
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc..... 15,000
BB&T Capital Markets.............. 15,000
C.L. King & Associates, Inc....... 15,000
D.A. Davidson & Co................ 15,000
Davenport & Company LLC........... 15,000
Fahnestock & Co. Inc.............. 15,000
Ferris, Baker Watts Inc........... 15,000
Fifth Third Securities, Inc....... 15,000
J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc.. 15,000
Janney Montgomery Scott Inc....... 15,000
McDonald Investments, Inc......... 15,000
Mesirow Financial, Inc............ 15,000
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc...... 15,000
Parker / Hunter Incorporated...... 15,000
Pershing, a Division of Donaldson,
Lufkin & Jenrette............... 15,000
Raymond James & Associates, Inc... 15,000
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated 15,000
Ryan, Beck & Co., Inc............. 15,000
Southwest Securities, Inc......... 15,000
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company
Incorporated.................... 15,000
SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc..... 15,000
William Blair & Company, L.L.C.... 15,000
---------
Total............................. 8,000,000
=========

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters
to purchase the preferred securities included in this offering are subject to
approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters
are obligated to purchase all the preferred securities if they purchase any of
the preferred securities. In the event of default by any underwriter, the
underwriting agreement provides that, in specified circumstances, purchase
commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the
underwriting agreement may be terminated.

The underwriters propose to offer some of the preferred securities directly
to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page
of this prospectus supplement and some of the preferred securities to dealers
at the initial public offering price less a concession not to exceed $.50 per
preferred security. The underwriters may allow, and dealers may reallow, a
concession not to exceed $.45 per preferred security on sales to other dealers.
If all of the preferred securities are not sold at the initial public offering
price, the representatives may change the initial public offering price and the
other selling terms.

S-37

Everest Holdings and Everest Capital Trust have granted an option to the
underwriters, exercisable during the 30-day period after the date of this
prospectus, to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,000,000 additional preferred
securities to cover over-allotments, if any, at the offering price to the
public set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. If the
underwriters exercise this option in whole or in part, Everest Holdings will
pay underwriting commissions of $.7875 per additional preferred security so
purchased.

Everest Group, Everest Holdings and Everest Capital Trust have agreed that,
for a period beginning on the date of this prospectus supplement and continuing
to, and including, the later of (1) the date 30 days after the closing date for
the purchase of the preferred securities and (2) the completion of the
distribution of the preferred securities by the underwriters, they will not
offer, sell or contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any preferred
securities, any other beneficial interests in the assets of Everest Capital
Trust, or any other securities of Everest Group, Everest Holdings or Everest
Capital Trust that are substantially similar to the preferred securities or the
junior subordinated debt securities, including any guarantee of these
securities, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for or
representing the right to receive the securities, without the prior written
consent of Salomon Smith Barney Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated,
except for the preferred securities offered in connection with this offering.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the preferred
securities. The preferred securities have been approved for listing on the New
York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance. Trading of the
preferred securities on the New York Stock Exchange is expected to commence
within a 30-day period after the initial delivery of the preferred securities.
The underwriters have advised Everest Holdings and Everest Capital Trust that
they intend to make a market in the preferred securities prior to commencement
of trading on the New York Stock Exchange, but are not obligated to do so and
may discontinue market making at any time without notice. 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 have undertaken to
sell preferred securities to a minimum of 400 beneficial holders.

In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the preferred
securities will ultimately be used to purchase the junior subordinated debt
securities, the underwriting agreement provides that Everest Holdings will pay
to the underwriters the following compensation, assuming either no exercise or
full exercise by the underwriters of the underwriters' over-allotment option:

Total Commission
-------------------------------------------
Per Preferred Without Exercise of With Full Exercise of
Security Over-Allotment Option Over-Allotment Option
------------- --------------------- ---------------------

Underwriting commission to be paid by Everest
Holdings................................... $.7875 $6,300,000 $7,087,500

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell
preferred securities in the open market. These transactions may include short
sales of preferred securities in excess of the number of preferred securities
to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate
short position. The underwriters must close out any short position by
purchasing preferred securities in the open market. A short position is likely
to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward
pressure on the price of the preferred securities in the open market after
pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchased in the offering.
Stabilizing transactions consist of bids for or purchases of preferred
securities in the open market while the offering is in progress.

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the
underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when
Salomon Smith Barney Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated repurchase
preferred securities originally sold by that syndicate member in order to cover
syndicate short positions or make stabilizing purchases.

S-38

Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a
decline in the market price of the preferred securities. They may also cause
the price of the preferred securities to be higher than the price that would
otherwise exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The
underwriters may conduct these transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or
in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any
of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.

The expenses associated with the offer and sale of the preferred securities,
to be paid by Everest Holdings, are estimated to be $350,000.

Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have performed investment
banking and advisory services for Everest Holdings and its affiliates from time
to time for which they have received customary fees and expenses. The
underwriters and their affiliates may, from time to time, engage in
transactions with and perform services for Everest Holdings and its affiliates
in the ordinary course of their business.

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites
maintained by one or more of the underwriters. The representatives may agree to
allocate a number of preferred securities to underwriters for sale to their
online brokerage account holders. The representatives will allocate preferred
securities to underwriters that may make Internet distributions on the same
basis as other allocations. In addition, preferred securities may be sold by
the underwriters to securities dealers who resell shares to online brokerage
account holders.

Everest Holdings and Everest Capital Trust have agreed to indemnify the
underwriters against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be
required to make because of any of those liabilities.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Everest Group and its subsidiaries
and Everest Holdings and its subsidiaries incorporated in this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus by reference to Everest Group's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and Everest
Holdings' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 have
been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the junior subordinated debt securities and guarantee will
be passed upon for Everest Holdings and Everest Capital Trust by Mayer, Brown,
Rowe & Maw, Chicago, Illinois, and for the underwriters by Sullivan & Cromwell,
New York, New York. Certain matters of Delaware law with respect to the
validity of the preferred securities offered by this prospectus supplement will
be passed upon for Everest Holdings and Everest Capital Trust by Richards,
Layton & Finger, P.A., special Delaware counsel to Everest Holdings and Everest
Capital Trust.

S-39

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate by reference information into
this prospectus supplement. The information incorporated by reference is
considered to be a part of this prospectus supplement, and information that we
file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this
information. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed
below:

. Everest Group's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2001;

. Everest Holdings' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2001;

. Everest Group's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2002;

. Everest Holdings' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2002;

. Everest Group's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
30, 2002;

. Everest Holdings' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 2002;

. Everest Group's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended
September 30, 2002;

. Everest Holdings' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended
September 30, 2002;

. Everest Group's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 19, 2002;

. Everest Group's Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 7, 2002;

. Everest Group's Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 13, 2002;

. Everest Holdings' Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 13, 2002; and

. the description of the common shares included in the Registration
Statement on Form 8-A, dated March 8, 2000, filed under Section 12 of
the Exchange Act.

All documents filed by Everest Group and by Everest Holdings pursuant to
Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
prospectus shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference and to be a part of
this prospectus from the respective dates of filing of those documents.

Upon request, we will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy
of this prospectus has been delivered a copy of any and all of these filings.
You may request a copy of these filings by writing or telephoning us at:

Everest Global Services, Inc.
477 Martinsville Road
P.O. Box 830
Liberty Corner, New Jersey 07938-0830
Attention: Joseph A. Gervasi
(908) 604-3000

S-40

$475,000,000

EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD.

Common Shares, Preferred Shares, Debt Securities,
Warrants to Purchase Common or Preferred Shares or Debt Securities,
Share Purchase Contracts and Share Purchase Units

EVEREST REINSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

Debt Securities and Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities

EVEREST RE CAPITAL TRUST

Preferred Securities

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

We may offer and sell from time to time securities in one or more offerings
up to a total dollar amount of $475,000,000. This prospectus provides you with
a general description of the securities we may offer.

Everest Group may offer and sell the following securities:

. common shares;

. preferred shares;

. senior or subordinated debt securities, which may be convertible into
our common or preferred shares;

. warrants to purchase common shares, preferred shares or debt
securities; and

. share purchase contracts and share purchase units.

Everest Holdings may offer and sell senior or subordinated debt securities,
which may be convertible into Everest Group common or preferred shares and
which may be guaranteed by Everest Group, and warrants to purchase debt
securities.

Everest Capital Trust may offer and sell preferred securities, which will be
guaranteed by Everest Holdings and which may be guaranteed by Everest Group.

Each time that securities are sold using this prospectus, we will provide a
supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the
offering. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained
in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplement
carefully before you invest.

The securities will be offered through underwriters, dealers or agents or
directly to investors. The supplements to this prospectus will provide the
specific terms of the plan of distribution.

The securities offered by this prospectus involve a high degree of risk. See
"Risk Factors" beginning on page 3 for a discussion of certain factors that you
should consider before buying the securities.

Everest Group's common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange
under the ticker symbol "RE." The closing price of the common shares, as
reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on September 23, 2002,
was $55.35 per share. If we decide to list any other of these securities on a
national securities exchange upon issuance, the applicable prospectus
supplement to this prospectus will identify the exchange and the date when we
expect trading to begin.

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

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the
adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is
a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is September 26, 2002.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. "Incorporated by reference" means that we can
disclose important information to you by referring you to another document
filed separately with the SEC. We 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 making, nor
will we make, an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer
or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in
this prospectus and any supplement to this prospectus is current only as of the
dates on their covers. Our business, financial condition, results of operations
and prospects may have changed since that date.

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to
"we," "us" and "our" refer to Everest Re Group, Ltd. and its subsidiaries,
collectively. References to "Everest Group" refer to Everest Re Group, Ltd.
References to "Everest Holdings" refer to Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc.,
our Delaware holding company subsidiary. References to "Everest Capital Trust"
refer to Everest Re Capital Trust, a Delaware statutory business trust.
References to "Everest Bermuda" refer to Everest Reinsurance (Bermuda), Ltd.,
our Bermuda insurance subsidiary. References to the "common shares" refer to
Everest Group's common shares, par value $.01 per share. References to "$" are
to United States currency, and the terms "United States" and "U.S." mean the
United States of America, its states, its territories, its possessions and all
areas subject to its jurisdiction.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the information incorporated by reference in this
prospectus may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
U.S. federal securities laws. We intend these forward-looking statements to be
covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the
federal securities laws. In some cases, you can identify these statements by
our use of forward-looking words such as "may," "will," "should," "anticipate,"
"estimate," "expect," "plan," "believe," "predict," "potential" and "intend."
You should be aware that these statements and any other forward-looking
statements in these documents only reflect our expectations and are not
guarantees of performance. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and
assumptions. Actual events or results may differ materially from our
expectations. Important factors that could cause our actual results to be
materially different from our expectations include those discussed under the
caption "Risk Factors" beginning on page 3. We undertake no obligation to
update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise.

EVEREST RE GROUP, LTD.

Our principal business, conducted through our operating subsidiaries, is the
underwriting of reinsurance and insurance in the United States, Bermuda and
international markets. Reinsurance is a form of insurance purchased by an
insurance company to indemnify it for all or part of the loss that it may
sustain under insurance contracts it has written. Insurance companies
purchasing reinsurance are often referred to as ceding companies or reinsureds.

We underwrite reinsurance both through brokers and directly with ceding
companies, giving us the flexibility to pursue business regardless of the
ceding company's preferred reinsurance purchasing method. All of our insurance
company subsidiaries, except Mt. McKinley Insurance Company, are rated A+
("Superior") by A.M. Best Company, an independent insurance industry rating
organization that rates insurance companies on factors of concern to
policyholders.

The address of our principal executive offices is c/o ABG Financial &
Management Services Inc., Parker House, Wildey Business Park, Wildey Road, St.
Michael, Barbados, and our telephone number is (246) 228-7398.

Our significant operating subsidiaries are:

. Everest Reinsurance Company, a Delaware insurance company, referred to
in this prospectus as Everest Re, underwrites property and casualty
reinsurance for insurance and reinsurance companies in the United States
and international markets.

. Everest Reinsurance (Bermuda), Ltd., a Bermuda insurance company, writes
property and casualty business and life and annuity business from its
offices in Bermuda.

. Everest National Insurance Company, an Arizona insurance company, writes
property and casualty insurance in the United States.

. Everest Security Insurance Company, a Georgia insurance company, writes
property and casualty insurance in Georgia.

EVEREST REINSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

Everest Holdings was established in 1993 in Delaware to serve as the parent
holding company of Everest Re. Until October 6, 1995, Everest Holdings was an
indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of The Prudential Insurance Company of
America, referred to in this prospectus as The Prudential. On October 6, 1995,
The Prudential sold its entire interest in Everest Holdings' shares of common
stock in an initial public offering. Effective February 24, 2000, Everest
Holdings completed a restructuring whereby Everest Holdings became the
wholly-owned subsidiary of Everest Group, and each outstanding share of common
stock of Everest Holdings automatically converted into one common share of
Everest Group. Everest Holdings continues to act as the holding company for the
subsidiaries of Everest Group in the United States and Canada.

Everest Holdings' principal executive offices are located at 477
Martinsville Road, P.O. Box 830, Liberty Corner, New Jersey 07938-0830, and its
telephone number is (908) 604-3000.

EVEREST RE CAPITAL TRUST

Everest Holdings created Everest Capital Trust as a statutory Delaware
business trust pursuant to a trust agreement. Everest Holdings will enter into
an amended and restated trust agreement, referred to in this prospectus as the
trust agreement, for Everest Capital Trust, which will state the terms and
conditions for Everest Capital Trust to issue and sell its preferred securities
and common securities.

Everest Capital Trust exists solely to:

. issue and sell its preferred securities, representing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of Everest Capital Trust, to the
public;

. issue and sell its common securities, representing undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of Everest Capital Trust, to Everest Holdings;

. use the proceeds from the sale of its preferred and common securities to
purchase a series of Everest Holdings' junior subordinated debt
securities;

. distribute the cash payments it receives from the junior subordinated
notes it owns to the holders of the preferred and common securities; and

. engage in other activities that are necessary or incidental to these
purposes.

Everest Holdings will purchase all of the common securities of Everest
Capital Trust. The common securities will represent an aggregate liquidation
amount equal to at least 3% of Everest Capital Trust's total capitalization.
The preferred securities will represent the remaining 97% of Everest Capital
Trust's total capitalization. The common securities will have terms
substantially identical to, and will rank equal in priority of payment with,
the preferred securities. However, if Everest Holdings defaults on the related
junior subordinated debt securities, then cash distributions and liquidation,
redemption and other amounts payable on the common securities will be
subordinate in priority of payment to these amounts payable on the preferred
securities.

The preferred securities will be guaranteed by Everest Holdings and may be
guaranteed by us as described later in this prospectus.

Everest Holdings has appointed five trustees to conduct Everest Capital
Trust's business and affairs:

. JPMorgan Chase Bank, as property trustee;

. Chase Manhattan Bank USA, National Association, as Delaware trustee; and

. Three officers of Everest Holdings, as regular trustees.

Except under specified limited circumstances, only Everest Holdings can
remove or replace the trustees. In addition, Everest Holdings can increase or
decrease the number of trustees.

Everest Capital Trust's principal executive offices are located at 477
Martinsville Road, P.O. Box 830, Liberty Corner, New Jersey 07938-0830, and its
telephone number is (908) 604-3000.

RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the following risk factors regarding us and
our securities, in addition to the other information provided in this
prospectus, before you purchase any securities. The risks and uncertainties
described below are not the only ones we face. There may be additional risks
and uncertainties. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business,
financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely
affected and the trading price of our securities could decline significantly.

Our results may fluctuate as a result of factors generally affecting the
insurance and reinsurance industry.

The results of companies in the insurance and reinsurance industry
historically have been subject to significant fluctuations and uncertainties.
Factors that affect the industry in general could also cause our results to
fluctuate. The industry's profitability can be affected significantly by:

. fluctuations in interest rates, inflationary pressures and other changes
in the investment environment, which affect returns on invested capital
and may impact the ultimate payout of loss amounts;

. rising levels of actual costs that are not known by companies at the
time they price their products;

. volatile and unpredictable developments, including weather-related and
other natural catastrophes;

. events like the September 11, 2001 attacks, which affect the insurance
and reinsurance markets generally;

. changes in reserves resulting from different types of claims that may
arise and the development of judicial interpretations relating to the
scope of insurers' liability; and

. the overall level of economic activity and the competitive environment
in the industry.

If our loss reserves are inadequate to meet our actual losses, our net income
would be reduced or we could incur a loss.

We are required to maintain reserves to cover our estimated ultimate
liability of losses and loss adjustment expenses for both reported and
unreported claims incurred. These reserves are only estimates of what we think
the settlement and administration of claims will cost based on facts and
circumstances known to us. Because of the uncertainties that surround
estimating loss reserves and loss adjustment expenses, we cannot be certain
that ultimate losses will not exceed these estimates of losses and loss
adjustment reserves. If our reserves are insufficient to cover our actual
losses and loss adjustment expenses, we would have to augment our reserves and
incur a charge to our earnings. These charges could be material. The difficulty
in estimating our reserves is increased because our loss reserves include
reserves for potential asbestos and environmental liabilities. Asbestos and
environmental liabilities are especially hard to estimate for many reasons,
including the long waiting periods between exposure and manifestation of any
bodily injury or property damage, difficulty in identifying the source of the
asbestos or environmental contamination, long reporting delays and difficulty
in properly allocating liability for the asbestos or environmental damage.

Our inability to assess underwriting risk accurately could reduce our net
income.

Our success depends on our ability to assess accurately the risks associated
with the businesses on which the risk is retained. If we fail to assess
accurately the risks we retain, we may fail to establish appropriate premium
rates and our reserves may be inadequate to cover our losses, which could
reduce our net income.

Decreases in rates for property and casualty reinsurance and insurance could
reduce our net income.

We write primarily property and casualty reinsurance and insurance. The
property and casualty industry historically has been highly cyclical. Rates for
property and casualty reinsurance and insurance are influenced primarily by
factors that are outside of our control. Any significant decrease in the rates
for property and casualty insurance or reinsurance could reduce our net income.

If rating agencies downgrade their ratings of our insurance company
subsidiaries, our future prospects for growth and profitability could be
significantly and adversely affected.

Our insurance company subsidiaries, other than Mt. McKinley Insurance
Company, currently hold an "A+ ("Superior")" financial strength rating from
A.M. Best Company, an "AA- ("Very Strong")" financial strength rating from
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services and an "Aa3 ("Excellent")" financial
strength rating from Moody's Investors Service, Inc. Financial strength ratings
are used by insurers and reinsurance and insurance intermediaries as an
important means of assessing the financial strength and quality of reinsurers.
In addition, the rating of a company purchasing reinsurance may be adversely
affected by an unfavorable rating or the lack of a rating of its reinsurer. A
downgrade or withdrawal of any of these ratings might adversely affect our
ability to market our insurance products and would have a significant and
adverse effect on our future prospects for growth and profitability.

Our reinsurers may not satisfy their obligations to us.

We are subject to credit risk with respect to our reinsurers because the
transfer of risk to a reinsurer does not relieve us of our liability to the
insured. In addition, reinsurers may be unwilling to pay us even though they
are able to do so. The failure of one or more of our reinsurers to honor their
obligations to us or to delay payment would impact our cash flow and reduce our
net income and could cause us to incur a significant loss.

If we are unable to purchase reinsurance and transfer risk to reinsurers, our
net income could be reduced or we could incur a loss.

We attempt to limit our risk of loss by purchasing reinsurance to transfer a
portion of the risks we assume. The availability and cost of reinsurance is
subject to market conditions, which are outside of our control. As a

result, we may not be able to successfully purchase reinsurance and transfer
risk through reinsurance arrangements. A lack of available reinsurance might
adversely affect the marketing of our programs and/or force us to retain all or
a part of the risk that cannot be reinsured. If we were required to retain
these risks and ultimately pay claims with respect to these risks, our net
income could be reduced or we could incur a loss.

Our industry is highly competitive and we may not be able to compete
successfully in the future.

Our industry is highly competitive and experiences significant price
competition. We compete in the United States and international markets with
domestic and international insurance companies. Some of these competitors have
greater financial resources than we do, have been operating for longer than we
have and have established long-term and continuing business relationships
throughout the industry, which can be a significant competitive advantage. In
addition, we expect to face further competition in the future. We may not be
able to compete successfully in the future.

We are dependent on our key personnel.

Our success depends on our ability to retain the services of our existing
key executive officers and to attract and retain additional qualified personnel
in the future. The loss of the services of any of our key executive officers or
the inability to hire and retain other highly qualified personnel in the future
could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business. Under Bermuda law,
non-Bermudians, other than spouses of Bermudians, are not permitted to engage
in any gainful occupation in Bermuda without a work permit issued by the
Bermuda government. A work permit is only granted or extended if the employer
can show that, after proper public advertisement, no Bermudian or spouse of a
Bermudian is available who meets the minimum standards for the position. The
Bermuda government recently announced a new policy that places a six-year term
limit on individuals with work permits, subject to specified exemptions for
persons deemed to be key employees. These restrictions make it difficult to
hire and retain highly qualified personnel in Bermuda. If work permits are not
obtained or renewed for our key employees in Bermuda, we could lose their
services, which could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business.

The value of our investment portfolio and the investment income we receive from
that portfolio could decline as a result of market fluctuations, economic
conditions and other factors.

A significant portion of our investment portfolio consists of fixed income
securities and a smaller portion consists of equity securities. Both the fair
market value of these assets and the investment income from these assets
fluctuate depending on general economic and market conditions and the
performance of the individual investments that comprise the portfolio. For
example, the fair market value of our fixed income securities generally
increases or decreases in an inverse relationship with fluctuations in interest
rates. The fair market value of our fixed income securities also can decrease
as a result of many factors, including a downturn in the business cycle, as
well as adverse business or financial disclosures by issuers of fixed income
securities, that cause the credit quality of those securities to deteriorate.
The net investment income that we realize from future investments in fixed
income securities will generally increase or decrease with interest rates.
Interest rate fluctuations also can cause net investment income from
investments that carry prepayment risk, such as mortgage-backed and other
asset-backed securities, to differ from the income anticipated from those
securities at the time we bought them. In addition, if issuers of individual
investments are unable to meet their obligations, investment income will be
reduced and realized capital losses may arise. Because all of our securities
are classified as available for sale, changes in the market value of our
securities are reflected in our financial statements. Similar treatment is not
available for liabilities. As a result, a decline in the value of the
securities in our portfolio could reduce our net income or cause us to incur a
loss.

Insurance laws and regulations restrict our ability to operate.

We are subject to extensive regulation under U.S. state and foreign
insurance laws. These laws limit the amount of dividends that can be paid to us
by our operating subsidiaries, impose restrictions on the amount and type of
investments that they can hold, prescribe solvency standards that must be met
and maintained by them and require them to maintain reserves. These laws also
require disclosure of material intercompany transactions and require prior
approval of "extraordinary" transactions. These "extraordinary" transactions
include declaring dividends from operating subsidiaries that exceed statutory
thresholds. These laws also generally require approval of changes of control.
Our failure to comply with these laws could subject us to fines and penalties
and restrict us from conducting business. The application of these laws could
affect our liquidity and ability to pay dividends or interest and other
payments on our securities, as applicable, and could restrict our ability to
expand our business operations through acquisitions involving our insurance
subsidiaries.

Failure to comply with insurance laws and regulations could have a material
adverse effect on our business.

We cannot assure you that we have or can maintain all required licenses and
approvals or that our business fully complies with the wide variety of
applicable laws and regulations or the relevant authority's interpretation of
the laws and regulations. In addition, some regulatory authorities have
relatively broad discretion to grant, renew or revoke licenses and approvals.
If we do not have the requisite licenses and approvals or do not comply with
applicable regulatory requirements, the insurance regulatory authorities could
preclude or temporarily suspend us from carrying on some or all of our
activities or monetarily penalize us. These types of actions could have a
material adverse effect on our business.

Our holding company structure could prevent us from paying dividends, interest
or other payments on our securities.

Everest Group and Everest Holdings are holding companies, each of whose most
significant assets consist of the stock of its operating subsidiaries. As a
result, each of Everest Group's and Everest Holdings' ability to pay dividends,
interest or other payments on its securities in the future will depend on the
earnings and cash flows of the operating subsidiaries and the ability of the
subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to it. This ability
is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, regulatory and other
factors beyond our control. Payment of dividends and advances and repayments
from some of the operating subsidiaries are regulated by U.S. state and foreign
insurance laws and regulatory restrictions, including minimum solvency and
liquidity thresholds. Accordingly, the operating subsidiaries may not be able
to pay dividends or advance or repay funds to us in the future, which could
prevent us from paying dividends, interest or other payments on our securities.

We may experience exchange losses if we do not manage our foreign currency
exposure properly.

Our functional currency is the United States dollar. However, we write a
portion of our business and receive a portion of our premiums in currencies
other than United States dollars. We also maintain a portion of our investment
portfolio in investments denominated in currencies other than United States
dollars. Consequently, we may experience exchange losses if our foreign
currency exposure is not properly managed or otherwise hedged. If we seek to
hedge our foreign currency exposure by using forward foreign currency exchange
contracts or currency swaps, we will be subject to the risk that the counter
parties to those arrangements will fail to perform, or that those arrangements
will not precisely offset our exposure.

If U.S. tax law changes, our net income may be reduced.

In the last few years, some members of Congress have expressed concern about
U.S. corporations that move their place of incorporation to low-tax
jurisdictions. Also, some members of Congress have expressed concern over a
competitive advantage that foreign-controlled insurers and reinsurers may have
over U.S.-controlled insurers and reinsurers due to the purchase of reinsurance
by U.S. insurers from affiliates

operating in some foreign jurisdictions, including Bermuda. Legislation has
recently been proposed in Congress that would increase the U.S. tax burden on
so-called "inverting" companies and increase the U.S. tax burden on
related-party reinsurance transactions. We do not know whether this legislation
or any similar legislation will ever be enacted into law. If it were enacted,
the U.S. tax burden on our Bermuda operations, or on some business ceded from
our licensed U.S. insurance subsidiaries to some offshore reinsurers, could be
increased. This could reduce our net income.

Everest Group and/or Everest Bermuda may be subject to U.S. corporate income
tax, which would reduce our net income.

The income of Everest Bermuda is a significant portion of our worldwide
income from operations. We have established guidelines for the conduct of our
Bermuda operations that are designed to minimize the risk that Everest Bermuda
would be treated as engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the United
States. Based on its compliance with those guidelines, we believe that Everest
Bermuda should not be required to pay U.S. corporate income tax, other than
withholding tax on U.S. source dividend income. However, if the IRS
successfully contended that Everest Bermuda was engaged in a trade or business
in the United States, Everest Bermuda would be required to pay U.S. corporate
income tax on any income that is subject to the taxing jurisdiction of the
United States, and possibly the U.S. branch profits tax. Even if the IRS
successfully contended that Everest Bermuda was engaged in a U.S. trade or
business, the U.S.-Bermuda tax treaty would preclude the IRS from taxing
Everest Bermuda's income except to the extent that its income were attributable
to a permanent establishment maintained by that subsidiary. We do not believe
that Everest Bermuda has a permanent establishment in the United States or any
material income attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States.
If the IRS successfully contended that Everest Bermuda did have income
attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States, it would be
subject to U.S. tax on that income.

We conduct our Barbados operations in a manner designed to minimize our U.S.
tax exposure. Based on our compliance with guidelines designed to ensure that
we generate only immaterial amounts, if any, of income that is subject to the
taxing jurisdiction of the United States, we believe that we should be required
to pay only immaterial amounts, if any, of U.S. corporate income tax, other
than withholding tax on U.S. source dividend income. However, if the IRS
successfully contended that we had material amounts of income that is subject
to the taxing jurisdiction of the United States, we would be required to pay
U.S. corporate income tax on that income, and possibly the U.S. branch profits
tax. Even if the IRS successfully contended that we had material amounts of
income that is subject to the taxing jurisdiction of the United States, the
U.S.-Barbados tax treaty would preclude the IRS from taxing our income, except
to the extent that our income was attributable to a permanent establishment
maintained by us in the United States. We do not believe that we have material
amounts of income attributable to a permanent establishment in the United
States. If the IRS successfully contended, however, that we did have income
attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States, we would be
subject to U.S. tax on that income.

If Everest Bermuda became subject to U.S. income tax on its income or if we
became subject to U.S. income tax on more than immaterial amounts of income,
our income could also be subject to the U.S. branch profits tax. In that event,
Everest Group and Everest Bermuda would be subject to taxation at a higher
combined effective rate than if they were organized as U.S. corporations. The
combined effect of the 35% U.S. corporate income tax rate and the 30% branch
profits tax rate is a net tax rate of 54.5%. The imposition of these taxes
would reduce our net income.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European
Union are considering measures that might increase Everest Group's taxes and
reduce our net income.

A number of multinational organizations, including the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development, also referred to in this prospectus as
the OECD, the European Union, the Financial Action Task Force and the Financial
Stability Forum, also referred to in this prospectus as FSF, have all recently
identified some countries as not participating in adequate information
exchange, engaging in harmful tax practices or not maintaining adequate
controls to prevent corruption, such as money laundering activities.
Recommendations to

limit these harmful practices are under consideration by these organizations,
and a recent report published on November 27, 2001 by the OECD at the behest of
FSF titled "Behind the Corporate Veil: Using Corporate Entities for Illicit
Purposes," contains an extensive discussion of specific recommendations. The
OECD has threatened non-member jurisdictions that do not agree to cooperate
with the OECD with punitive sanctions by OECD member countries, though specific
sanctions have yet to be adopted by OECD member countries. It is as yet unclear
as to what these sanctions will be, who will adopt them and when or if they
will be imposed. On April 18, 2002, the OECD published a list of "uncooperative
tax havens," which are those jurisdictions from whom the OECD has not received
commitments to the OECD's principles of regulatory and tax transparency and
effective exchange of information. The governments of both Bermuda and Barbados
have made these commitments. As a result, neither Bermuda nor Barbados was
listed as an uncooperative tax haven.

Everest Group and/or Everest Bermuda may become subject to Bermuda tax, which
would reduce our net income.

Everest Group and Everest Bermuda currently are not subject to income or
capital gains taxes in Bermuda. Both companies have received an assurance from
the Bermuda Minister of Finance under The Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection
Act 1966 of Bermuda to the effect that if any legislation is enacted in Bermuda
that imposes any tax computed on profits or income, or computed on any capital
asset, gain or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or
inheritance tax, then that tax will not apply to us or to any of our operations
or our shares, debentures or other obligations until March 28, 2016. This
assurance does not prevent the application of any of those taxes to persons
ordinarily resident in Bermuda and does not prevent the imposition of any tax
payable in accordance with the provisions of The Land Tax Act of 1967 of
Bermuda or otherwise payable in relation to any property leased to Everest
Group. There are currently no procedures for extending these assurances. As a
result, Everest Group and Everest Bermuda could be subject to taxes in Bermuda
after March 28, 2016, which could reduce our net income.

Everest Group may become subject to Barbados tax, which would reduce our net
income.

Everest Group has obtained an international business company license under
the Barbados International Business Companies Act, 1991-24. Based on this
license, Everest Group is entitled to special tax benefits, including a
preferred rate of tax on profits and gains and an exemption from withholding
tax in respect of any dividends, interest, royalties, fees or management fees
deemed to be paid to another international business company or to a person not
resident in Barbados. Everest Group also has obtained from the Ministry of
Economic Development a fifteen year guarantee in accordance with Section 27 of
the International Business Companies Act with regards to its continued
eligibility for this preferred status. This guarantee is applicable until 2014
and is subject to negative resolution, which means that this guarantee can be
revoked at any time. In addition, there are currently no procedures for
extending this guarantee. As a result, Everest Group could be ineligible for
these benefits after that period or earlier if the guarantee is revoked, which
could reduce our net income.

Our net income will be reduced if U.S. excise and withholding taxes are
increased.

Everest Bermuda is subject to an excise tax on reinsurance and insurance
premiums it collects with respect to risks located in the United States. In
addition, Everest Bermuda may be subject to withholding tax on dividend income
from United States sources. These taxes could increase and other taxes could be
imposed in the future on Everest Bermuda's business, which could reduce our net
income.

Regulatory challenges in the United States could adversely affect the ability
of Everest Bermuda to conduct business.

Everest Bermuda does not intend to be licensed or admitted as an insurer or
reinsurer in any U.S. jurisdiction. Under current law, Everest Bermuda
generally will be permitted to reinsure U.S. risks from its office in Bermuda
without obtaining those licenses. However, the insurance and reinsurance
regulatory framework has become subject to increased scrutiny. In the past,
there have been congressional and other initiatives in the United States
regarding increased supervision and regulation of the insurance industry,
including proposals to supervise and regulate reinsurers domiciled outside the
United States. If Everest Bermuda were to become subject to any insurance laws
of the United States or any U.S. state at any time in the future, it might be
required to post deposits or maintain minimum surplus levels and might be
prohibited from engaging in lines of business or from writing types of
policies. Complying with those laws could have a material adverse effect on our
ability to conduct business in the Bermuda market.

Everest Bermuda may need to be licensed or admitted in additional jurisdictions
to develop its business.

As Everest Bermuda's business develops, it will monitor the need to obtain
licenses in jurisdictions other than Bermuda in order to comply with applicable
law or to be able to engage in additional insurance-related activities. In
addition, Everest Bermuda may be at a competitive disadvantage in jurisdictions
where it is not licensed or does not enjoy an exemption from licensing relative
to competitors that are so licensed or exempt from licensing. Everest Bermuda
may not be able to obtain any additional licenses that it determines are
necessary or desirable. Furthermore, the process of obtaining those licenses is
often costly and may take a long time.

Everest Bermuda's ability to write reinsurance may be severely limited if it is
unable to arrange for security to back its reinsurance.

Many jurisdictions do not permit insurance companies to take credit for
reinsurance obtained from unlicensed or non-admitted insurers on their
statutory financial statements without appropriate security. Everest Bermuda's
reinsurance clients typically require it to post a letter of credit or enter
into other security arrangements. If Everest Bermuda is unable to obtain or
maintain a letter of credit facility on commercially acceptable terms or is
unable to arrange for other types of security, its ability to operate its
business may be severely limited. If Everest Bermuda defaults on any letter of
credit that it obtains, it may be required to prematurely liquidate a
substantial portion of its investment portfolio and other assets pledged as
collateral.

You may not be able to recover damages from Everest Group, some of its
directors and officers and some experts named in this prospectus if you sue
them.

Everest Group is organized under the laws of Bermuda. Some of its directors
and officers, as well as some of the experts named in this prospectus, may
reside outside the United States. A substantial portion of our and their assets
are or may be located in jurisdictions outside the United States. You may not
be able to effect service of process within the United States on directors and
officers of Everest Group and those experts who reside outside the United
States. You also may not be able to recover against them or Everest Group on
judgments of U.S. courts or to obtain original judgments against them or
Everest Group in Bermuda courts, including judgments predicated upon civil
liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws.

We are subject to litigation, claims and proceedings that could harm our
business.

We are subject from time to time to various litigation, claims and
proceedings that arise in the course of our business, including in connection
with our activities as a reinsurer and insurer. While it is not feasible to
predict or determine the outcome of all of these matters, we believe that their
outcome is not likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial
position. However, given the inherent unpredictability of litigation, it is
possible that an adverse outcome in some matters could have a material adverse
effect on our results of operations.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the net
proceeds from the sale of the offered securities will be used for working
capital and other general corporate purposes.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

Six Months
Ended June 30, Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
-------------- --------------------------
2002 2001 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- -----

Everest Group... 6.8 6.2 2.9 6.7 73.4 121.2 127.9
Everest Holdings 4.7 4.8 1.6 6.0 73.4 121.2 127.9

ACCOUNTING TREATMENT

Everest Capital Trust will be treated as a subsidiary of Everest Holdings
for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, Everest Capital Trust's
financial statements will be included in the consolidated financial statements
of Everest Holdings. The preferred securities will be presented as a separate
line item in the consolidated statements of financial condition of Everest
Holdings under the caption "Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred
Securities of Subsidiary Trust Holding Solely Junior Subordinated Notes of the
Company" and appropriate disclosures about the preferred securities will be
included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. For financial
reporting purposes, Everest Holdings will record distributions payable on the
preferred securities as a component of interest expense in the consolidated
statements of operations of Everest Holdings.

In its future financial reports, Everest Holdings will: (1) present the
preferred securities on its consolidated financial statements of financial
condition as a separate line item entitled "Company Obligated Mandatorily
Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary Trust Holding Solely Junior
Subordinated Notes of the Company" and (2) include in a footnote to the
financial statements disclosure that the sole assets of Everest Capital Trust
are the junior subordinated debt securities specifying the principal amount,
interest rate and maturity date of the junior subordinated debt securities held.

DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a summary of some of the provisions of the memorandum of
association and bye-laws of Everest Group. Because this summary is not
complete, you should refer to the memorandum of association and bye-laws for
additional information regarding the common shares and preferred shares. Copies
of the memorandum of association and bye-laws are incorporated by reference as
exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

General

Our authorized share capital consists of 200,000,000 common shares, par
value $.01 per share, of which 50,869,931 were outstanding as of August 30,
2002 and 2,060,874 were subject to stock options outstanding which are, or may
become, exercisable into common shares; and 50,000,000 preferred shares, par
value $.01 per share, none of which are currently outstanding. From time to
time, Everest Group repurchases its common shares either directly or through
its subsidiaries.

Common Shares

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"RE." The common shares currently issued and outstanding are fully paid and
nonassessable within the meaning of applicable Bermuda law. Our common shares
offered by a prospectus supplement, upon issuance against full consideration,
will be fully paid and nonassessable within the meaning of applicable Bermuda
law.

Under our bye-laws, the holders of common shares have no redemption,
conversion or sinking fund rights. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution
or winding-up, the holders of common shares are entitled to share equally and
ratably in the assets of Everest Group, if any, remaining after the payment of
all of our debts and liabilities and the liquidation preference of any
outstanding preferred shares. The holders of our common shares will receive
such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of
directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends.

The quorum required for a general meeting of shareholders is two or more
persons present in person and representing in person or by proxy more than 50%
of the issued and outstanding common shares. Subject to the voting restrictions
set forth below, holders of common shares are entitled to one vote per share on
all matters submitted to a vote of holders of common shares and do not have any
cumulative voting rights. Most matters to be approved by holders of common
shares require approval by a simple majority of the votes cast at a meeting at
which a quorum is present.

Our board of directors is divided into three classes that are elected for
staggered three-year terms. Shareholders may only remove a director for cause
at a special meeting of shareholders at which the votes of not less than 50% of
the shares entitled to vote are cast in favor of removal. This could make the
removal of the incumbent directors of Everest Group more difficult and delay or
prevent a change of control that a shareholder might consider in his or her
best interest, including a takeover attempt that might result in a premium over
the market price for the shares held by shareholders.

Limitation on Voting Rights. If and for as long as the aggregate number of
controlled shares, as defined below, of any person exceeds 9.9% of the total
voting power of all of the issued and outstanding share capital of Everest
Group, each controlled share, regardless of the identity of the registered
holder, will confer only a fraction of a vote as determined by the following
formula:

(T-C)
--------
(9.1 X C)

Where:

. "T" is the aggregate number of votes conferred by all of the issued and
outstanding share capital prior to the application of the formula with
respect to any particular person, adjusted to take into account any
prior reduction taken with respect to any other person as a result of a
previous application of the formula.

. "C" is the number of controlled shares attributable to the person; and

. "Controlled shares" of any person refers to all shares of the issued and
outstanding share capital owned by that person, whether

. directly,

. with respect to persons who are U.S. persons, by application of the
attribution and constructive ownership rules of sections 958(a) and
958(b) or 544 and 554 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or

. beneficially within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the U.S.
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The formula will be applied successively, starting with the person to whom
the largest number of controlled shares is attributable, as many times as may
be necessary to ensure that the aggregate number of controlled shares of any
person does not exceed 9.9% of the total voting power of all of the issued and
outstanding share capital at any time.

The directors retain discretion to make final adjustments to the aggregate
number of votes attaching to the shares of any shareholder that they consider
fair and reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure that the aggregate
number of controlled shares of any person does not exceed 9.9% of the total
voting power of Everest Group.

Restrictions on Transfer. Our bye-laws permit our board of directors to
decline to register any transfer of common shares if it has reason to believe
that the transfer would result in:

. any person that is not an investment company beneficially owning more
than 5.0% of any class of the issued and outstanding share capital of
Everest Group,

. any person holding controlled shares in excess of 9.9% of any class of
the issued and outstanding share capital of Everest Group or

. any adverse tax, regulatory or legal consequences to Everest Group, any
of its subsidiaries or any of its shareholders.

If the directors refuse to register a transfer for any reason, they must
notify the proposed transferor and transferee within 30 days of their refusal.
Our bye-laws also provide that the board of directors may suspend the
registration of transfers at any time and for any periods that it determines,
provided that they may not suspend the registration of transfers for more than
45 days in any period of 365 consecutive days.

We have been advised by Conyers Dill & Pearman, our Bermuda counsel, that
while the precise form of the restrictions on transfer contained in the
bye-laws is untested, as a matter of general principle, restrictions on
transfers are enforceable under Bermuda law and are not uncommon. A proposed
transferee will be permitted to dispose of any common shares purchased that
violate the restrictions and as to the transfer of which registration is
refused. The transferor of those common shares will be deemed to own those
common shares for dividend, voting and reporting purposes until a transfer of
those common shares has been registered on the shareholder register of Everest
Group.

Repurchase Rights. Our bye-laws provide that if the board of directors has
reason to believe that

. any person that is not an investment company beneficially owns more than
5.0% of any class of the issued and outstanding share capital of Everest
Group,

. any person holds controlled shares in excess of 9.9% of any class of the
issued and outstanding share capital of Everest Group or

. share ownership by any person may result in adverse tax, regulatory or
legal consequences to Everest Group, any of its subsidiaries or any
other shareholder,

then Everest Group will have the option, but not the obligation, to redeem or
purchase all or any part of the common shares so held to the extent the board
of directors determines it is necessary or advisable to avoid or cure any
adverse or potential adverse consequences. The price to be paid for any common
shares redeemed or purchased will be the fair market value of those shares,
defined as the average of the high and low sale prices of the common shares on
the New York Stock Exchange for the last 15 trading days immediately preceding
the day on which Everest Group sends a notice of redemption or purchase to the
shareholder.

The limitations on voting, restrictions on transfer and repurchase rights
described above could have the effect of rendering more difficult or
discouraging unsolicited takeover bids from third parties or the removal of
incumbent directors of Everest Group.

Information Requirements. Our bye-laws provide that the board of directors
may require any shareholder or proposed transferee of shares to certify or
otherwise provide to the board of directors complete and accurate information
necessary for it to give effect to the limitations on voting, restrictions on
transfer and repurchase rights described above. If any shareholder or proposed
transferee fails to respond to that request in a timely fashion or if the board
of directors has reason to believe that any certification or other information
provided is inaccurate or incomplete, the board of directors may decline to
approve any transfer to which that request relates or may determine to
disregard for all purposes all votes attached to any common shares held by that
shareholder.

Transfer Agent. The transfer agent and registrar for our common shares is
EquiServe Trust Company, N.A.

Preferred Shares

Subject to the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, the board of directors may
establish one or more series of preferred shares having the number of shares,
designation, powers, preferences, voting rights, dividend rates, repurchase
provisions and other rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions that
may be fixed by the board of directors. The issuance of preferred shares could
have the effect of discouraging an attempt to obtain control of Everest Group.
The issuance of preferred shares also could adversely affect the voting power
of the holders of our common shares, deny shareholders the receipt of a premium
on their common shares in the event of a tender or other offer for the common
shares and have a depressive effect on the market price of the common shares.

The preferred shares to be offered by a prospectus supplement, upon issuance
against full consideration, will be fully paid and non-assessable within the
meaning of applicable Bermuda law. The terms of any preferred shares offered by
a prospectus supplement will be filed with the SEC on a Form 8-K or by
post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus
is a part.

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of
preferred shares will describe the specific terms of that series as fixed by
the board of directors, including:

. the offering price at which Everest Group will issue the preferred
shares;

. the title, designation of number of shares and stated value of the
preferred shares;

. the dividend rate or method of calculation, the payment dates for
dividends and the place or places where the dividends will be paid,
whether dividends will be cumulative or noncumulative and, if
cumulative, the dates from which dividends will begin to cumulate and
any limitations, restrictions or conditions on the payments of dividends;

. any conversion or exchange rights;

. whether the preferred shares will be subject to repurchase and the
repurchase price and other terms and conditions relative to the
repurchase rights;

. any liquidation rights;

. any sinking fund provisions;

. any voting rights; and

. any other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions
that are not inconsistent with the terms of Everest Group's memorandum
of association and bye-laws.

Bermuda Exchange Control

We have obtained consent for the issue and transfer of our shares to and
between non-residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes from the Bermuda
Monetary Authority as required by The Exchange Control

Act 1972 of Bermuda and related regulations. This consent is subject to the
condition that our common shares be listed on an appointed stock exchange,
which includes the New York Stock Exchange. No further permission from the
Bermuda Monetary Authority will be required to issue our shares or to transfer
our shares between persons regarded as non-resident in Bermuda for exchange
control purposes. The issue and transfer of in excess of 20% of our shares
involving any persons regarded as resident in Bermuda for exchange control
purposes require prior authorization. The Bermuda Monetary Authority also has
designated Everest Group as non-resident for exchange control purposes. This
designation allows Everest Group to transfer funds in and out of Bermuda and to
pay dividends to non-residents of Bermuda who are holders of our shares in
currencies other than the Bermuda Dollar. There are no provisions of Bermuda
law or our memorandum of association or bye-laws which impose any limitation on
the rights of shareholders to hold or vote our shares by reason of their not
being residents of Bermuda.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES

Everest Group or Everest Holdings may elect to offer debt securities. The
following description of debt securities sets forth the material terms and
provisions of the debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may
relate. Everest Group's senior debt securities would be issued under a senior
indenture between Everest Group and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee. Everest
Group's subordinated debt securities would be issued under a subordinated
indenture between Everest Group and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee. The
Everest Group senior indenture and subordinated indenture have been filed as
exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. A
supplemental indenture containing the particular terms of any debt securities
issued by Everest Group will be executed at the time the debt securities are
issued and will be filed with the SEC on a Form 8-K or by a post-effective
amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Everest Holdings' senior debt securities would be issued under a senior
indenture, dated March 14, 2000, between Everest Holdings and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, now known as JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee. Everest Holdings'
subordinated debt securities would be issued under a subordinated indenture
between Everest Holdings and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee. The Everest
Holdings senior indenture and subordinated indenture have been filed as
exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. A
supplemental indenture containing the particular terms of any debt securities
issued by Everest Holdings will be executed at the time the debt securities are
issued and will be filed with the SEC on a Form 8-K or by a post-effective
amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Everest Group's senior indenture, Everest Group's subordinated indenture,
Everest Holdings' senior indenture and Everest Holdings' subordinated indenture
are sometimes referred to in this prospectus collectively as the "indentures"
and each, individually, as an "indenture." Everest Group's senior indenture and
Everest Holdings' senior indenture are sometimes referred to in this prospectus
collectively as the "senior indentures" and each, individually, as a "senior
indenture." Everest Group's subordinated indenture and Everest Holdings'
subordinated indenture are sometimes referred to in this prospectus
collectively as the "subordinated indentures" and each, individually, as a
"subordinated indenture." The particular terms of the debt securities offered
by any prospectus supplement, and the extent to which the general provisions
described below may apply to the offered debt securities, will be described in
the applicable prospectus supplement. The indentures will be qualified under
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. The terms of the debt securities will include
those stated in the indentures and those made part of the indentures by
reference to the Trust Indenture Act.

The following discussion summarizes the material terms and provisions of the
indentures and the related debt securities; however, you should refer to the
forms of the indentures and the debt securities for complete information on
some of the terms and provisions of the indentures, including definitions of
some of the terms used below, and the debt securities. The senior indentures
and subordinated indentures are substantially identical to one another, except
for specific covenants relating to subordination contained in the subordinated
indentures.

General

The indentures provide that the issuer may issue the debt securities
thereunder from time to time in one or more series.

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, senior debt
securities will be unsecured obligations of the issuer and will rank equally
with all of the issuer's other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The
senior debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to all of the
issuer's existing and future secured indebtedness. As a result, in the event of
the issuer's bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization or upon acceleration of
the senior debt securities due to an event of default, the issuer's assets will
be available to pay its obligations on the senior debt securities only after
all secured indebtedness has been paid in full in cash or other payment
satisfactory to the holders of the secured indebtedness has been made. There
may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all of the
senior debt securities then outstanding. The senior debt securities are also
effectively subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of the
issuer's subsidiaries. The senior indentures do not prohibit or limit the
incurrence of secured or senior indebtedness or the incurrence of other
indebtedness and liabilities by the issuers or their respective subsidiaries.
The incurrence of additional senior indebtedness and other liabilities by the
issuer or its subsidiaries could adversely affect the issuer's ability to pay
the obligations on any senior debt securities.

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement,
subordinated debt securities will be unsecured obligations of the issuer,
subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all secured
and senior indebtedness of the issuer, as described below under "Subordination
of Subordinated Debt Securities" and in the applicable prospectus supplement.
As a result, in the event of the issuer's bankruptcy, liquidation or
reorganization or upon acceleration of the subordinated debt securities due to
an event of default, the issuer's assets will be available to pay its
obligations on the subordinated debt securities only after all secured and
senior indebtedness has been paid in full in cash or other payment satisfactory
to the holders of the secured and senior indebtedness has been made. There may
not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all of the
subordinated debt securities then outstanding. The subordinated debt securities
are also effectively subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of
the issuer's subsidiaries. The subordinated indentures do not prohibit or limit
the incurrence of secured or senior indebtedness or the incurrence of other
indebtedness and liabilities by the issuers or their respective subsidiaries.
The incurrence of additional senior, secured and subordinated indebtedness and
other liabilities by the issuer or its subsidiaries could adversely affect the
issuer's ability to pay the obligations on any subordinated debt securities.

As of June 30, 2002, Everest Group had no secured indebtedness outstanding
and guaranteed approximately $105.0 million of unsecured senior indebtedness of
Everest Holdings, which would rank equal in priority with other senior debt
securities issued by Everest Group. As of June 30, 2002, Everest Group's
subsidiaries had approximately $6.5 billion of indebtedness and other
liabilities, including insurance reserves. As of June 30, 2002, Everest
Holdings had no secured indebtedness outstanding and approximately $553.9
million of unsecured senior indebtedness outstanding, which would rank equal in
priority with other senior debt securities issued by Everest Holdings. As of
June 30, 2002, Everest Holdings' subsidiaries had approximately $5.7 billion of
indebtedness and other liabilities, including insurance reserves.

The rights of our creditors, including the holders of our debt securities
and the holders of Everest Holdings' debt securities who are creditors of
Everest Group by virtue of any guarantee of the debt securities issued by
Everest Holdings, to participate in the distribution of stock owned by us in
some of our subsidiaries, including our insurance subsidiaries, may be subject
to approval by insurance regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the
subsidiaries. The rights of Everest Holdings' creditors, including the holders
of its debt securities, to participate in the distribution of stock owned by it
in some of its subsidiaries, including its insurance subsidiaries, may also be
subject to approval by insurance regulatory authorities having jurisdiction
over the subsidiaries.

The prospectus supplement relating to the particular debt securities offered
by the prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of the offered
debt securities:

. the title of the debt securities and the series in which the debt
securities will be included;

. the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities and any limit upon
the principal amount;

. the date or dates, or the method or methods, if any, by which the date
or dates will be determined, on which the principal of the debt
securities will be payable;

. the rate or rates at which the debt securities will bear interest, if
any, which rate may be zero in the case of some debt securities issued
at an issue price representing a discount from the principal amount
payable at maturity, or the method by which the rate or rates will be
determined, including, if applicable, any remarketing option or similar
method, and the date or dates from which interest, if any, will accrue
or the method by which the date or dates will be determined;

. the date or dates on which interest, if any, on the debt securities will
be payable and any regular record dates applicable to the date or dates
on which interest will be so payable;

. any right to extend or defer the interest payment period and the
duration of any extension;

. the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities that will be
payable if the maturity is accelerated, if other than the entire
principal amount;

. if other than as set forth in this prospectus, the place or places where
the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts
with respect to the debt securities will be payable, and any of the debt
securities that may be surrendered for registration of transfer,
conversion or exchange;

. the issuer's obligation, if any, to redeem or purchase the debt
securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund, amortization or
analogous provision and the terms and conditions on which the debt
securities may be redeemed or purchased pursuant to any obligation;

. the terms and conditions, if any, on which the debt securities of the
series may be redeemed at the issuer's option or at the option of the
holders;

. any index, formula or other method used to determine the amount of
payments of principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional
amounts with respect to the debt securities;

. whether the debt securities will be convertible into common shares or
preferred shares of Everest Group and/or exchangeable for other
securities of Everest Group or Everest Holdings and, if so, the terms
and conditions upon which the debt securities will be so convertible or
exchangeable;

. whether the debt securities are to be issued in the form of one or more
temporary or permanent global securities and, if so, the identity of the
depositary for the global security or securities;

. whether the debt securities are senior debt securities or subordinated
debt securities and, if subordinated debt securities, the specific
subordination provisions applicable thereto;

. in the case of debt securities issued by Everest Holdings, the
provisions, if any, relating to our guarantee of Everest Holdings' debt
securities;

. any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of
default or covenants of the issuer with respect to the debt securities;
and

. any other material terms of the debt securities and any other deletions
from or modifications or additions to the applicable indenture in
respect of the debt securities.

The issuer will have the ability under the indentures to "reopen" a
previously issued series of the debt securities and issue additional debt
securities of that series or establish additional terms of that series. The
issuer is also permitted to issue debt securities with the same terms as
previously issued debt securities.

The issuer may offer and sell the debt securities at a substantial discount
below their principal amount and the indentures do not provide any limit on the
amount by which the issuer may discount the debt securities. The applicable
prospectus supplement will describe the special United States federal income
tax and other considerations, if any, applicable to the discounted debt
securities. In addition, the applicable prospectus supplement may describe
special United States federal income tax or other considerations, if any,
applicable to any debt securities that are denominated in a currency or
currency unit other than U.S. dollars.

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the issuer
will only issue the debt securities in fully registered form, without coupons,
in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000, and there will
be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt
securities. We may, however, require payment to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection with the registration or transfer.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, interest may
be paid by check mailed to the persons entitled to the interest at their
addresses appearing on the security register or by wire transfer to an account
maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States and will be
payable on any interest payment date to the persons in whose name the debt
securities are registered at the close of business on the regular record date
with respect to each interest payment date.

Interest on the debt securities in connection with a redemption, whether the
redemption is before or after the regular record date, will be payable to the
persons in whose names the debt securities are registered on the redemption
date, unless the redemption date is on an interest payment date. If the
redemption date is on an interest payment date, interest on the debt securities
will be payable to the persons in whose names the debt securities were
registered on the next preceding regular record date. All paying agents
initially designated by the issuer for the debt securities will be named in the
applicable prospectus supplement. The issuer may, at any time, designate
additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or
approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that
the issuer will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place where the
principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect
to the debt securities are payable.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt
securities may be presented for transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a
written instrument of transfer, if so required by the issuer or the security
registrar, or exchanged for other debt securities of the same series,
containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and
of a like aggregate principal amount, at the office or agency maintained by the
issuer for these purposes, which shall initially be the corporate trust office
of the trustee. Any transfer or exchange will be made without service charge,
but the issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
other governmental charge and any other expenses then payable. The issuer will
not be required to:

. issue, register the transfer of, or exchange, the debt securities during
a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of
mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities and ending at
the close of business on the day of the mailing;

. register the transfer of or exchange any debt security so selected for
redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any
debt security being redeemed in part; or

. register the transfer of or exchange any debt security which, in
accordance with its terms, has been surrendered for repayment at the
option of the holder, except the portion, if any, of the debt security
not to be so repaid.

We and Everest Holdings have appointed the trustee as security registrar.
Any transfer agent, in addition to the security registrar, initially designated
by either issuer for any debt securities will be named in the applicable
prospectus supplement. The issuer may, at any time, designate additional
transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a
change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that the
issuer will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place whether the
principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect
to the debt securities are payable.

The debt securities may be represented in whole or in part by one or more
global debt securities registered in the name of a depository or its nominee
and, if so represented, interests in the global debt security will be shown on,
and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by the
designated depositary and its participants as described below. Where the debt
securities of any series are issued in bearer form, the special restrictions
and considerations, including special offering restrictions and special United
States federal income tax considerations, applicable to the debt securities and
to payment on and transfer and exchange of the debt securities will be
described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the
indentures do not contain any provisions that would limit the issuer's ability
to incur indebtedness or that would afford holders of the debt securities
protection in the event of a sudden and significant decline in the issuer's
credit quality or a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged or similar
transaction involving the issuer. Accordingly, the issuer could in the future
enter into transactions that could increase the amount of indebtedness
outstanding at that time or otherwise affect its capital structure or credit
rating. You should refer to the applicable prospectus supplement for
information regarding any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the
events of default described below or covenants contained in the indentures,
including any addition of a covenant or other provisions providing event risk
or similar protection.

Global Securities

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the
form of one or more global debt securities that will be deposited with, or on
behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of
the debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We and Everest Holdings anticipate that the following provisions will apply to
all depositary arrangements.

Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary for the global
security or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and
transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the debt securities
represented by the global security. The accounts will be designated by the
underwriters or agents with respect to the debt securities or by the issuer if
the debt securities are offered and sold directly by the issuer. Ownership of
beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to persons that may
hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in the
global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be
effected only through, records maintained by the depositary or its nominee,
with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants,
with respect to interests of persons other than participants. The laws of some
states require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of
securities in definitive form. These limits and laws may impair the ability to
transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

So long as the depositary for a global security, or its nominee, is the
registered owner of the global security, the depositary or nominee, as the case
may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities
represented by the global security for all purposes under the applicable
indenture.

Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a global
security will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by the
global security registered in their names and will not receive or be entitled
to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form.

Principal of, any premium and interest on, and any additional amounts with
respect to, the debt securities registered in the name of a depositary or its
nominee will be paid to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as
the registered owner of the global security representing the debt securities.
None of the trustee, any paying agent, the security registrar or the issuer
will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records
relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of
the global security for the debt securities or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

We and Everest Holdings expect that the depositary or its nominee, upon
receipt of any payment with respect to the debt securities, will immediately
credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their
respective beneficial interest in the principal amount of the global security
for the debt securities as shown on the records of the depositary or its
nominee. We and Everest Holdings also expect that payments by participants to
owners of beneficial interests in the global security held through its
participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices,
as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers
registered in "street name," and will be the responsibility of the participants.

The indentures provide that if:

. the depositary for a series of the debt securities notifies the issuer
that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or if the
depositary ceases to be eligible under the applicable indenture and, in
each case, a successor depositary is not appointed by the issuer within
90 days of written notice;

. the issuer determines that the debt securities of a particular series
will no longer be represented by global securities and executes and
delivers to the trustee a company order to this effect; or

. an event of default with respect to a series of the debt securities has
occurred and is continuing,

the global securities will be exchanged for the debt securities of that series
in definitive form of like tenor and of an equal aggregate principal amount in
authorized denominations.

The definitive debt securities will be registered in the name or names as
the depositary shall instruct the trustee. It is expected that these
instructions may be based upon directions received by the depositary from
participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in global
securities.

Guarantee of Everest Holdings Debt Securities by Everest Group

If provided for in the applicable prospectus supplement, Everest Group will
fully and unconditionally guarantee all obligations with respect to any series
of debt securities issued by Everest Holdings. Unless provided otherwise in the
applicable prospectus supplement, each Everest Group debt security guarantee
will be unsecured indebtedness of Everest Group and will rank equally with all
of Everest Group's other unsecured indebtedness. Each Everest Group debt
security guarantee may rank equally with or senior or subordinate to Everest
Group's other indebtedness. As a result, in the event of Everest Group's
bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization or upon acceleration of any series of
debt securities due to an event of default, Everest Group's assets will be
available to pay its obligations on the Everest Group debt security guarantee
only after all secured indebtedness and other indebtedness senior to the
guarantee has been paid in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the
holders of the secured and senior indebtedness has been made. There may not be
sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all of the Everest
Group debt securities guarantees. Each Everest Group debt security guarantee
will also effectively subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of
Everest Group's subsidiaries.

Unless provided otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, each
Everest Group debt security guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment
and not of collection. This means that the holder of the guaranteed security
may sue Everest Group to enforce its rights under the Everest Group debt
security guarantee without first suing any other person or entity.

Payment of Additional Amounts

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, Everest
Group will make all payments of principal and premium, if any, interest and any
other amounts on, or in respect of, the debt securities of any series and all
payments under any Everest Group debt security guarantee without withholding or
deduction at source for, or on account of, any present or future taxes, fees,
duties, assessments or governmental charges imposed or levied by or on behalf
of Bermuda or any other jurisdiction in which Everest Group or any successor is
organized or resident for tax purposes or any political subdivision or taxing
authority of Bermuda or any of

those other jurisdictions. If any withholding or deduction is required by law,
Everest Group will, subject to specified limitations and exceptions described
below or in the applicable prospectus supplement, pay to the holder of any
applicable debt securities any additional amounts as may be necessary so that
every net payment of principal, premium, if any, interest or any other amount
made to the holder after the withholding or deduction will not be less than the
amount provided for in the applicable debt security and indenture to be then
due and payable.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Everest Group will not be required to pay any
additional amounts under the applicable indenture as a result of:

. the imposition of any tax, fee, duty, assessment or governmental charge
that would not have been imposed but for the fact that the holder or
beneficial owner of the debt security was a resident, domiciliary or
national of, or had other specified connections with, the relevant
taxing jurisdiction or presented the debt security for payment in the
relevant taxing jurisdiction unless it could not have been presented
elsewhere;

. the imposition of any tax, fee, duty, assessment or governmental charge
that would not have been imposed but for the fact that the holder or
beneficial owner of the debt security presented the debt security for
payment more than 30 days after it was due and payable, except to the
extent that the holder would have been entitled to the additional
amounts if it had presented the debt security for payment on any day
within that 30-day period;

. any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property or
similar tax, fee, duty, assessment or other governmental charge; or

. the imposition of any tax, fee, duty, assessment or governmental charge
that would not have been imposed but for the fact that the holder or
beneficial owner of the debt security failed to comply, within 90 days,
with any reasonable request by Everest Group addressed to the holder or
beneficial owner relating to the provision of information or the making
of a declaration required by the taxing jurisdiction as a precondition
to exemption from all or part of the tax, fee, duty, assessment or
governmental charge.

In addition, Everest Group will not pay additional amounts with respect to
any payment to any holder of a debt security where the beneficial owner of the
debt security is a fiduciary or partnership to the extent that the payment
would be included in the income for tax purposes of a beneficiary with respect
to the fiduciary or a partner of the partnership that would not have been
entitled to additional amounts if it had been the holder of the debt security.

Conversion and Exchange

The terms, if any, on which debt securities of any series are convertible
into or exchangeable for common shares, preferred shares or other securities,
whether or not issued by Everest Group or Everest Holdings, property or cash,
or a combination of any of the foregoing, will be set forth in the applicable
prospectus supplement. These terms may include provisions for conversion on
exchange, either mandatory, at the option of the holder or at the option of the
issuer, in which the securities, property or cash to be received by the holders
of the debt securities would be calculated according to the factors and at the
time as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any conversion or
exchange will comply with applicable law and the issuer's organizational
documents.

Consolidation, Amalgamation, Merger and Sale of Assets

Each indenture provides that the issuer may not consolidate or merge with or
into another entity, or convey, transfer or lease the properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any entity or permit any entity to convey,
transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the
issuer, unless:

. the successor, if any, is a corporation, partnership or trust organized
and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state
of the United States, the District of Columbia, Bermuda or the

Cayman Islands and expressly assumes by supplemental indenture all of
the issuer's obligations under the indentures and the debt securities;

. immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default,
and no event which after notice or lapse of time or both would become an
event of default, will have happened and be continuing;

. the issuer delivers an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel
to the indenture trustee, each stating that the transaction complies
with the indenture and the issuer has complied with all conditions
precedent in the indenture relating to the consolidation, merger,
conveyance or transfer.

Upon the assumption by the successor of the issuer's obligations under the
applicable indenture and the related debt securities, the successor will
succeed to and be substituted for the issuer under the applicable indenture,
and the issuer will be relieved of all of its obligations under the applicable
indenture and related debt securities.

Events of Default

Unless the issuer provides otherwise or modifies the events of default in
the applicable prospectus supplement, each of the following events will
constitute an event of default under each indenture with respect to any series
of debt securities issued under the indenture, whatever the reason for the
event of default and whether it will be voluntary or involuntary or be effected
by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court
or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body:

. the issuer fails to pay principal of or any premium or additional amount
on any debt securities of that series on its due date;

. the issuer fails to pay any interest on any debt securities of that
series within 30 days from its due date; provided, however, that the
date on which the payment is due will be the date on which the issuer is
required to make payment following any deferral of interest payments by
the issuer under the terms of the debt securities;

. the issuer fails to make any sinking fund payment on its due date;

. the issuer fails to perform any of its covenants in the indenture,
excluding a covenant not applicable to the affected series, for 60 days
after the indenture trustee or the holders of at least 33% in principal
amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series give the issuer
written notice of the default and require that the issuer remedy the
breach. However, the 60-day period may be extended by either the
indenture trustee or the indenture trustee and the holders of at least
the same principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that
series that had given notice of the default, and the indenture trustee
or the indenture trustee and the holders, as the case may be, will be
deemed to have agreed to an extension, if the issuer has initiated and
is diligently pursuing corrective action;

. the issuer files for bankruptcy or other events of bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization occur; or

. any other event of default specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement occurs.

If an event of default with respect to the debt securities of any series
occurs and is continuing, then the indenture trustee or holders of not less
than 33% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series
may, by written notice to the issuer, and to the indenture trustee if given by
the holders, declare the unpaid principal amount and accrued interest, or a
lesser amount as may be provided for in the debt securities of the series, of
all outstanding debt securities of the series to be due and payable
immediately. At any time after a

declaration of acceleration has been made, but before a judgment or decree for
payment of money has been obtained by the trustee, and subject to applicable
law and specified other provisions of the applicable indenture, the holders of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of a series
may, under specified circumstances, rescind and annul an acceleration and its
consequences if:

. the issuer deposits with the indenture trustee funds sufficient to pay
all overdue principal of and premium and interest on the debt securities
and other amounts due the debt securities trustee and, to the extent
that payment of the interest is lawful, interest on the overdue
interest; and

. all existing events of default with respect to the debt securities have
been cured or waived, except non-payment of principal or interest on the
debt securities that has become due solely because of the acceleration.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt
securities of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the indenture trustee or
to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred on the indenture trustee
with respect to the debt securities of that series.

No holder of a debt security of any series will have any right to institute
a proceeding with respect to the indenture for the appointment of a receiver or
for any remedy under the indenture unless:

. that holder has previously given the indenture trustee written notice
that an event of default with respect to the debt securities of that
series has occurred and is continuing;

. the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt
securities of that series have made written request to institute the
proceeding;

. the holder or holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the indenture
trustee;

. the indenture trustee has failed to institute the proceeding for 60 days
after receipt of the notice and offer of indemnity; and

. the indenture trustee has not received from the holders of a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a
direction inconsistent with the written request.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder of any debt security will have an
absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of and any
premium and interest on that debt security on its maturity date, or, in the
case of redemption, the date of redemption, and to institute suit for the
enforcement of any payment.

Notice of Default

Each indenture provides that, if an event occurs which is or would become an
event of default with respect to any series of the debt securities, and the
indenture trustee knows of the event, the indenture trustee will mail to the
holders of the affected debt securities a notice of the default within 90 days,
unless the default has been cured or waived by the holders of the affected debt
securities. However, except in the case of a default in the payment of any
amounts due on any debt security of a series, the indenture trustee may
withhold notice if and so long as the issuer's board of directors and/or
responsible officers of the indenture trustee determine in good faith that
withholding the notice is in the interest of the holders of the affected debt
securities. In addition, if the issuer defaults on any series of the debt
securities by failing to comply with or perform any of its agreements,
covenants or warranties applicable to those debt securities, no notice will be
given until at least 30 days after the default occurs.

Under each indenture, the issuer is required to furnish annually to the
indenture trustee an officers' certificate to the effect that, to the best
knowledge of the officers providing the certificate, it is not in default under
the indenture or, if there has been a default, specifying the default and its
status.

Modification

The issuer and the indenture trustee may amend or modify any of the
indentures with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the
amendment or modification voting as a class. No amendment or modification may,
however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt securities
affected by the amendments or modifications:

. change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of
principal of or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to,
any debt security;

. reduce the principal amount of, the rate of interest on, or any
additional amounts with respect to, or any premium payable upon the
redemption of, any debt security;

. reduce the amount of principal of any debt security due and payable upon
acceleration of the maturity of the debt security;

. change the place of payment or currency of payment of principal of or
any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to,
any debt security;

. impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on
any debt security on or after the stated maturity or date of redemption;
or

. reduce the percentage in principal amount of the debt securities of any
series, the consent of whose holders is required to amend or modify the
indenture, to waive compliance with specific provisions of the indenture
or to waive specific defaults.

No supplemental indenture may directly or indirectly modify or eliminate the
subordination provisions of the subordinated indentures in any manner that
might terminate or impair the subordination of the subordinated debt securities
to senior indebtedness without the prior written consent of the holders of the
senior indebtedness.

In addition, the issuer and the indenture trustee may, without the consent
of any of the holders of the debt securities, execute supplemental indentures
to:

. create new series of debt securities;

. provide for the issuer's successor pursuant to a consolidation,
amalgamation, merger or sale of assets;

. provide additional covenants or events of defaults for the benefit of
the holders of the debt securities;

. secure the debt securities;

. provide for a successor trustee with respect to debt securities of all
or any series;

. cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture; and

. make other changes that do not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the debt securities in any material respects,

as well as for various other purposes.

Waiver of Covenants and Defaults

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
debt securities of any series may waive, for that series, the issuer's
compliance with any restrictive covenants included in any supplemental
indenture. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of any series with respect to which a default has
occurred and is continuing may waive the default for that series, other than a
default in the payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, any debt
security of that series or a default with respect to a covenant or provisions
that cannot be amended or modified without the consent of the holder of each
outstanding debt security affected.

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

The indentures provide, unless the terms of the particular series of debt
securities provides otherwise, the issuer may cause itself to be:

. discharged from its obligations with respect to any debt securities or
series of debt securities, which we refer to as defeasance; and

. released from its obligations under any restrictive covenants included
in any supplemental indenture with respect to any debt securities or
series of debt securities, which we refer to as covenant defeasance.

The indentures permit defeasance with respect to any debt securities of a
series even if a prior covenant defeasance has occurred with respect to the
debt securities of that series. Following a defeasance, payment of the debt
securities defeased may not be accelerated because of an event of default.
Following a covenant defeasance, payment of the debt securities may not be
accelerated by reference to the covenants affected by the covenant defeasance.
However, if an acceleration were to occur, the realizable value at the
acceleration date of the money and government obligations in the defeasance
trust could be less than the principal and interest then due on the debt
securities, since the required deposit in the defeasance trust would be based
upon scheduled cash flows rather than market value, which would vary depending
upon interest rates and other factors.

Upon a defeasance, the following rights and obligations will continue:

. the rights of the holders of the debt securities of any series to
receive from the trust established in connection with the defeasance
payments of the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any
additional amounts with respect to, the debt securities when payments
are due;

. the issuer's obligations regarding the registration, transfer and
exchange of the debt securities of any series;

. the issuer's obligation to maintain an office or agency in each place of
payment; and

. the survival of the indenture trustee's rights, powers, trusts, duties
and immunities under the indenture.

In connection with any defeasance or covenant defeasance, the issuer must
irrevocably deposit with the indenture trustee, in trust, money and/or
government obligations which, through the scheduled payment of principal and
interest on those obligations, would provide sufficient money to pay the
principal of, premium and interest on, and any additional amounts with respect
to, the debt securities on the maturity dates or upon redemption.

In connection with a defeasance or covenant defeasance, the issuer must
deliver to the indenture trustee:

. an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt
securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal
income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance or covenant defeasance
and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in
the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the
defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. This opinion, in the
case of a defeasance, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the
IRS or a change in applicable federal income tax law occurring after the
date of the indenture;

. an officers' certificate confirming that any debt securities then listed
on any securities exchange will not be delisted; and

. an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that
the issuer has complied with all conditions precedent.

In addition, the following conditions must be true:

. no event will have occurred and be continuing which is or would become
an event of default;

. the defeasance or covenant defeasance will not cause the indenture
trustee to have a conflicting interest under the Trust Indenture Act;

. the defeasance or covenant defeasance will not cause the trust to become
an investment company under the Investment Company Act unless it is
properly registered under that Act or exempt from registration; and

. proper notice of the redemption date, if applicable, will have been
given.

Subordination of the Subordinated Debt Securities

Subordinated debt securities issued by an issuer will, to the extent set
forth in the applicable subordinated indenture, be subordinate in right of
payment to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness of the issuer,
whether outstanding at the date of the subordinated indenture or incurred after
that date. In the event of:

. any insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership,
liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding in
connection therewith, relative to the issuer or to its creditors, as
such, or to its assets; or

. any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding
up of the issuer, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy; or

. any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of
assets and liabilities of the issuer,

then the holders of senior indebtedness of the issuer will be entitled to
receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of
all its senior indebtedness, or provision will be made for the payment in cash,
before the holders of the subordinated debt securities of the issuer are
entitled to receive or retain any payment on account of principal of, or any
premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, the
subordinated debt securities. The holders of senior indebtedness of the issuer
will be entitled to receive, for application to the payment thereof, any
payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or
securities, including any payment or distribution which may be payable or
deliverable by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of the issuer
being subordinated to the payment of its subordinated debt securities, which
may be payable or deliverable in respect of its subordinated debt securities in
any case, proceeding, dissolution, liquidation or other winding up event.

By reason of subordination, in the event of liquidation or insolvency of the
issuer, holders of senior indebtedness of the issuer and holders of other
obligations of the issuer that are not subordinated to its senior indebtedness
may recover more ratably than the holders of subordinated debt securities of
the issuer. As of June 30, 2002, Everest Group had no secured indebtedness
outstanding and guaranteed approximately $105.0 million of unsecured senior
indebtedness of Everest Holdings, which would rank senior in priority to any
subordinated debt securities issued by Everest Group, and no subordinated
indebtedness outstanding that would rank equal in priority with any
subordinated debt securities issued by Everest Group. As of June 30, 2002,
Everest Holdings had no secured indebtedness outstanding and approximately
$553.9 million of unsecured senior indebtedness outstanding, which would rank
senior in priority to any other subordinated securities issued by Everest
Holdings, and no subordinated indebtedness outstanding that would rank equal in
priority with any subordinated debt securities issued by Everest Holdings.

Subject to the payment in full of all senior indebtedness of the issuer, the
rights of the holders of subordinated debt securities of the issuer will be
subrogated to the rights of the holders of its senior indebtedness

to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the
issuer applicable to its senior indebtedness until the principal of, any
premium and interest on, and any additional amounts with respect to, its
subordinated debt securities have been paid in full.

No payment of principal, including redemption and sinking fund payments, of,
or any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to the
subordinated debt securities of the issuer, or payments to acquire these
securities, other than pursuant to their conversion, may be made:

. if any senior indebtedness of the issuer is not paid when due and any
applicable grace period with respect to the default has ended and the
default has not been cured or waived or ceased to exist, or

. if the maturity of any senior indebtedness of the issuer has been
accelerated because of a default.

The subordinated indentures do not limit or prohibit the issuer from
incurring additional senior indebtedness, which may include indebtedness that
is senior to its subordinated debt securities, but subordinate to the issuer's
other obligations.

The subordinated indentures provide that these subordination provisions,
insofar as they relate to any particular issue of subordinated debt securities
by the issuer, may be changed prior to the issuance. Any change would be
described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

New York Law to Govern

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by the laws of the
State of New York.

Information Concerning the Trustee

JPMorgan Chase Bank, which is the indenture trustee under all of the
indentures, also serves as property trustee and guarantee trustee with respect
to the preferred securities issued by Everest Capital Trust. Everest Group
and/or Everest Holdings and some of their affiliates maintain banking
relationships with JPMorgan Chase Bank and its affiliates in the ordinary
course of business.

DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS

General

Everest Group may issue warrants to purchase its common shares, preferred
shares, debt securities or any combination of these securities, and Everest
Holdings may issue warrants to purchase its debt securities. These warrants may
be issued independently or together with any underlying securities and may be
attached or separate from the underlying securities. Each series of warrants
will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between
Everest Group or Everest Holdings and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will
act solely as agent for the issuer in connection with the warrants of such
series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with
holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to the warrants will describe
the specific terms of the warrants, including:

. the title of the warrants;

. the total number of warrants;

. the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;

. the currency or currencies investors may use to pay for the warrants;

. the designation and terms of the underlying securities purchasable upon
exercise of the warrants;

. the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite
currencies, in which investors may purchase the underlying securities
purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

. the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and
the date on which the right will expire;

. whether the warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form;

. information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

. if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be
exercised at any one time;

. if applicable, the designation and terms of the underlying securities
with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued
with each underlying security;

. the call provisions, if any;

. the antidilution provisions of any share warrants;

. if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax
considerations;

. the identity of the warrant agent;

. the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the warrants;
and

. any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and
limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

Warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new warrant certificates of
different denominations, and warrants will be exercisable at the warrant
agent's corporate trust office or any other office indicated in the applicable
prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of
warrants exercisable for common shares or preferred shares will not have any
rights of holders of the common shares or preferred shares purchasable upon
such exercise and will not be entitled to dividend payments, if any, or voting
rights of the common shares or preferred shares purchasable upon such exercise.
Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for
debt securities will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt
securities purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to payments
of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities purchasable
upon such exercise.

Exercise of Warrants

A warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash an amount of
securities at an exercise price that will be stated in, or that will be
determinable as described in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Warrants
may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date
set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business
on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

Warrants will be exercisable as set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly
completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent
or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, the issuing company
will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon such
exercise. If less than all of the warrants represented by such warrant
certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the
remaining warrants.

Enforceability of Rights; Governing Law

The holders of the warrants, without the consent of the warrant agent, may,
on their own behalf and for their own benefit, enforce, and may institute and
maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the issuer to enforce their
rights to exercise and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of
their warrants. Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement, each
issue of warrants and the applicable warrant agreement will be governed by the
laws of the State of New York.

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND SHARE PURCHASE UNITS

Everest Group may issue share purchase contracts, representing contracts
obligating holders to purchase from Everest Group, and obligating Everest Group
to sell to the holders, a specified number of common shares or preferred shares
at a future date or dates. The price per common share or preferred share, as
the case may be, may be fixed at the time the share purchase contracts are
issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula contained in the
share purchase contracts. The share purchase contracts may be issued separately
or as a part of units consisting of a share purchase contract and Everest
Group's debt securities or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S.
Treasury securities, securing the holders' obligations to purchase the common
shares or preferred shares, as the case may be, under the share purchase
contracts.

Share purchase contracts may require Everest Group to make periodic payments
to the holders of the units or vice versa, and these payments may be unsecured
or prefunded on some basis. The share purchase contracts may require holders to
secure their obligations under the contracts in a specific manner.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any share
purchase contracts or units. The description in the applicable prospectus
supplement will not purport to be complete and will be qualified in its
entirety by reference to:

. the share purchase contracts;

. the collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, if applicable,
relating to the share purchase contracts or share purchase units; and

if applicable, the prepaid share purchase contracts and the document pursuant
to which the prepaid share purchase contracts will be issued.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES

The preferred securities will be issued pursuant to a trust agreement, dated
as of September 17, 1999, as subsequently amended and restated, between Everest
Holdings and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as the property trustee, Chase Manhattan Bank
USA, National Association, as the Delaware trustee, the three regular trustees
and the holders from time to time of the trust's preferred and common
securities. The original trust agreements and the amended and restated trust
agreement have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which
this prospectus is a part. The amended and restated trust agreement will be
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. The terms of the preferred
securities will include those stated in the amended and restated trust
agreement and those made part of the amended and restated trust agreement by
reference to the Trust Indenture Act.

General

The trust agreement authorizes the regular trustees to issue on behalf of
Everest Capital Trust one series of preferred securities that have the terms
described in a prospectus supplement. The proceeds from the sale of Everest
Capital Trust's preferred and common securities will be used by the trust to
purchase a series of Everest Holdings' junior subordinated debt securities. The
junior subordinated debt securities will be held in trust by the property
trustee for the benefit of the holders of the preferred and common securities.

The terms of the preferred securities will mirror the terms of the junior
subordinated debt securities held by Everest Capital Trust. The assets of
Everest Capital Trust available for distribution to the holders of its
preferred securities generally will be limited to payments from Everest
Holdings under the series of junior subordinated debt securities held by
Everest Capital Trust. If Everest Holdings fails to make a payment on the
junior subordinated debt securities, Everest Capital Trust will not have
sufficient funds to make related payments, including distributions, on its
preferred securities.

Under the preferred securities guarantee, Everest Holdings will agree to
make payments of distributions and payments on redemption or liquidation with
respect to Everest Capital Trust's preferred securities, but only to the extent
the trust has funds available to make those payments and has not made the
payments. Everest Group may also guarantee Everest Holdings' obligations under
the preferred securities guarantees See "Description of the Trust Preferred
Securities Guarantee." The preferred securities guarantee, when taken together
with Everest Holdings' obligations under the junior subordinated debt
securities, the junior subordinated indenture, the trust agreement and the
expense agreement described below, will provide a full and unconditional
guarantee by Everest Holdings of amounts due on the preferred securities issued
by Everest Capital Trust.

The prospectus supplement relating to the preferred securities of Everest
Capital Trust will describe the specific terms of the preferred securities,
including:

. the name of the preferred securities;

. the dollar amount and number of securities issued;

. the annual distribution rate, or method of determining the rate, of
distributions on the preferred securities, and date or dates from which
any distributions will accrue;

. the payment date and the record date used to determine the holders who
are to receive distributions;

. the right, if any, to defer distributions on the preferred securities
upon extension of the interest payment periods of the related junior
subordinated debt securities;

. Everest Capital Trust's obligation, if any, to redeem or purchase the
preferred securities and the terms and conditions on which the preferred
securities may be redeemed or purchased to any obligation;

. the terms and conditions, if any, on which the preferred securities may
be redeemed at Everest Capital Trust's option or at the option of the
holders;

. the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the related junior
subordinated debt securities may be distributed to holders of the
preferred securities;

. the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the preferred securities;

. whether the preferred securities are to be issued in book-entry form and
represented by one or more global certificates and, if so, the
depository for the global certificates and the specific terms of the
depositary arrangements; and

. any other relevant rights, preferences, privileges, limitations or
restrictions of the preferred securities.

The prospectus supplement will describe the relevant United States federal
income tax considerations applicable to the purchase, holding and disposition
of the series of preferred securities.

Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution

Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, the trust
agreement states that Everest Capital Trust will be dissolved:

. on the expiration of the term of Everest Capital Trust;

. upon the bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation of Everest Holdings;

. upon the direction of Everest Holdings to the property trustee to
dissolve Everest Capital Trust, after satisfaction of liabilities of
Everest Capital Trust as required by applicable law, and distribution of
the related junior subordinated debt securities directly to the holders
of the preferred and common securities of the trust;

. upon the redemption of all of the common and preferred securities of
Everest Capital Trust in connection with the redemption of all of the
related junior subordinated debt securities; or

. upon entry of a court order for the dissolution of Everest Capital Trust.

Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, in the
event of a dissolution as described above other than in connection with
redemption, after Everest Capital Trust satisfies all liabilities to its
creditors as provided by applicable law, each holder of the preferred or common
securities will be entitled to receive:

. the related junior subordinated debt securities in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the
preferred or common securities held by the holder; or

. if any distribution of the related junior subordinated debt securities
is determined by the property trustee not to be practical, cash equal to
the aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred or common securities
held by the holder, plus accumulated and unpaid distributions to the
date of payment.

If Everest Capital Trust cannot pay the full amount due on its preferred and
common securities because insufficient assets are available for payment, then
the amounts payable by Everest Capital Trust on its preferred and common
securities will be paid on a pro rata basis. However, if an event of default
under the junior subordinated indenture has occurred and is continuing with
respect to any series of related junior subordinated debt securities, the total
amounts due on the preferred securities will be paid before any distribution on
the common securities.

Events of Default

The following will be events of default under the trust agreement:

. an event of default under the junior subordinated indenture occurs with
respect to any series of related junior subordinated debt securities; or

. any other event of default specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement occurs.

For so long as any preferred securities remain outstanding, if an event of
default with respect to a series of related junior subordinated debt securities
occurs and is continuing under the junior subordinated indenture, and the
junior subordinated indenture trustee or the holders of not less than 33% in
principal amount of the related junior subordinated debt securities outstanding
fail to declare the principal amount of all of such junior subordinated debt
securities to be immediately due and payable, the holders of at least 33% in
aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities will have
the right to declare such principal amount immediately due and payable by
providing notice to Everest Holdings, the property trustee and the junior
subordinated indenture trustee.

At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made with respect
to a series of related junior subordinated debt securities and before a
judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the holders
of a majority in liquidation amount of the preferred securities may rescind any
declaration of acceleration with respect to the related junior subordinated
debt securities and its consequences:

. if the issuer of the related junior subordinated debt securities
deposits with the trustee funds sufficient to pay all overdue principal
of and premium and interest on the related junior subordinated debt
securities and other amounts due to the junior subordinated indenture
trustee and the property trustee and any accrued additional interest on
the related junior subordinated debt securities; and

. if all existing events of default with respect to the related junior
subordinated debt securities have been cured or waived except
non-payment of principal on the related junior subordinated debt
securities that has become due solely because of the acceleration.

The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the preferred securities
may waive any past default under the junior subordinated note indenture with
respect to related junior subordinated debt securities, other than a default in
the payment of the principal of, or any premium or interest on, any related
junior subordinated debt securities or a default with respect to a covenant or
provision that cannot be amended or modified without the consent of the holder
of each outstanding related junior subordinated debt security affected. In
addition, except as otherwise provided in the trust agreement, the holders of
at least a majority in liquidation amount of the preferred securities may waive
a past default under the trust agreement.

The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the preferred securities
shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceedings for any remedy available to the property trustee or to direct the
exercise of any trust or power conferred on the property trustee under the
trust agreement.

For so long as any preferred securities remain outstanding and to the
fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the terms of the trust agreement
and indenture, a holder of preferred securities may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the issuer of the related junior subordinated debt
securities, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the property
trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to the holder
of principal and any premium or interest on the junior subordinated debt
securities of the related series having a principal amount equal to the
aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred securities of the holder if
Everest Holdings fails to pay principal and any premium or interest on the
related series of junior subordinated debt securities when payable.

Everest Holdings and the regular trustees are required to furnish annually
to the property trustee for the trust certificates to the effect that, to the
best knowledge of the individuals providing the certificates, it and Everest
Capital Trust are not in default under the trust agreement, or if there has
been a default, specifying the default and its status.

Consolidation, Merger or Amalgamation of Everest Capital Trust

Everest Capital Trust may not consolidate or merge with or into, or be
replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any entity, except as described below or as
described in "Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution." At the request of the
holders of the common securities, Everest Capital Trust may, without the
consent of the holders of the outstanding preferred securities, consolidate or
merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to a trust organized under
the laws of any State if:

. the successor entity either:

. expressly assumes all of the obligations of Everest Capital Trust
relating to its preferred securities; or

. substitutes for Everest Capital Trust's preferred securities other
securities having substantially the same terms as the preferred
securities, so long as the substituted successor securities rank the
same as the preferred securities for distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise;

. Everest Holdings appoints a trustee of the successor entity to hold the
junior subordinated debt securities who has substantially the same
powers and duties as the property trustee of Everest Capital Trust;

. the substitute preferred securities are listed or traded, or any
substituted successor securities will be listed upon notice of issuance,
on the same national securities exchange or other organization on which
the preferred securities are then listed or traded;

. the merger event does not cause the preferred securities or any
substituted successor securities to be downgraded by any national rating
agency;

. the merger event does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and
privileges of the holders of the preferred securities or any substituted
successor securities in any material respect;

. the successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of
Everest Capital Trust; and

. prior to the merger event, Everest Holdings has received an opinion of
counsel from a nationally recognized law firm stating that:

. the merger event does not adversely affect the rights, preferences
and privileges of the holders of Everest Capital Trust's preferred
securities or any successor securities in any material respect;

. following the merger event, neither Everest Capital Trust nor the
successor entity will be required to register as an investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940; and

. Everest Holdings or its permitted transferee owns all of the common
securities of the successor entity and guarantees the obligations of
the successor entity under the substituted successor securities at
least to the extent provided under the preferred securities guarantee.

In addition, unless all of the holders of the preferred securities approve
otherwise, Everest Capital 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 other entity or permit any other entity to
consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into or replace it if the transaction
would cause Everest Capital Trust or the successor entity to be taxable as a
corporation or classified other than as a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes or cause the junior subordinated debt securities to
be treated as other than indebtedness of Everest Holdings for United States
income tax purposes.

Voting Rights

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the holders of the
preferred securities will have no voting rights except as discussed below and
under "--Amendment of Trust Agreement" and "Description of the Preferred
Securities Guarantee--Amendments and Assignment," and as otherwise required by
law.

If any proposed amendment to the trust agreement provides for, or the
regular trustees of the trust otherwise propose to effect:

. any action that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or
special rights of the preferred securities in any material respects,
whether by way of amendment to the trust agreement or otherwise; or

. the dissolution, winding-up or termination of Everest Capital Trust
other than pursuant to the terms of the trust agreement,

then the holders of the preferred securities as a class will be entitled to
vote on the amendment or proposal. In that case, the amendment or proposal will
be effective only if approved by the holders of at least a majority in
aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred securities.

So long as any junior subordinated debt securities are held by the property
trustee on behalf of Everest Capital Trust, without obtaining the prior
approval of the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the
preferred securities, the trustees of Everest Capital Trust may not:

. direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the junior subordinated indenture trustee for any
related junior subordinated debt securities or direct the exercise of
any trust or power conferred on the property trustee with respect to the
junior subordinated debt securities;

. waive any default that is waivable under the junior subordinated
indenture with respect to any related junior subordinated debt
securities;

. cancel an acceleration of the principal of any related junior
subordinated debt securities; or

. consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the junior
subordinated indenture or any related junior subordinated debt
securities where consent is required.

However, if a consent under the junior subordinated indenture requires the
consent of each affected holder of the related junior subordinated debt
securities, then the property trustee must obtain the prior consent of each
holder of the preferred securities. In addition, before taking any of the
foregoing actions, the property trustee must obtain an opinion of counsel
experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of such actions,
Everest Capital Trust will not be taxable as a corporation or classified as
other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.

The property trustee will notify all preferred securities holders of Everest
Capital Trust of any notice of default received from the junior subordinated
indenture trustee with respect to the junior subordinated debt securities held
by the trust.

Any required approval of the holders of the preferred securities may be
given at a meeting of the holders of the preferred securities convened for the
purpose or pursuant to written consent. The property trustee will cause a
notice of any meeting at which holders of securities are entitled to vote to be
given to each holder of record of the preferred securities at the holder's
registered address, or to any other address which has been specified in
writing, at least 15 days and not more than 90 days before the meeting.

No vote or consent of the holders of securities will be required for Everest
Capital Trust to redeem and cancel the securities in accordance with the trust
agreement.

Notwithstanding that the holders of the preferred securities are entitled to
vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the
preferred securities that are owned by Everest Holdings, the trustees of the
trust or any affiliate of Everest Holdings or any trustees of Everest Capital
Trust shall, for purposes of any vote or consent, be treated as if they were
not outstanding. Preferred securities held by Everest Holdings or any of its
affiliates may be exchanged for related junior subordinated debt securities at
the election of the holder.

Amendment of the Trust Agreement

The trust agreement may be amended from time to time by Everest Holdings and
the property trustee and the regular trustees of Everest Capital Trust without
the consent of the holders of the preferred securities of the trust to:

. cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision which may be
inconsistent with any other provision or make provisions not
inconsistent with any other provisions with respect to matters or
questions arising under the trust agreement, in each case to the extent
that the amendment does not adversely affect the interests of any holder
of the preferred securities in any material respect; or

. modify, eliminate or add to any provisions to the extent necessary to
ensure that Everest Capital Trust will not be taxable as a corporation
or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal
income tax purposes at all times that any trust securities are
outstanding, to ensure that the junior subordinated debt securities held
by Everest Capital Trust are treated as indebtedness for United States
federal income tax purposes or to ensure that Everest Capital Trust will
not be required to register as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act, in each case to the extent that the amendment
does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of the preferred
securities in any material respect.

Other amendments to the trust agreement of Everest Capital Trust may be made
by Everest Holdings and the trustees of Everest Capital Trust upon approval of
the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding
preferred securities and receipt by the trustees of an opinion of counsel to
the effect that the amendment will not cause Everest Capital Trust to be
taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a

grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, affect the
treatment of the junior subordinated debt securities held by Everest Capital
Trust as indebtedness for United States federal income tax purposes or affect
the trust's exemption from status as an "investment company" under the
Investment Company Act.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of the affected holder of
the common or preferred securities of Everest Capital Trust, the trust
agreement may not be amended to:

. change the amount or timing of any distribution on the common or
preferred securities of Everest Capital Trust or otherwise adversely
affect the amount of any distribution required to be made in respect of
the securities as of a specified date; or

. restrict the right of a holder of any securities to institute suit for
the enforcement of any payment on or after the distribution date.

In addition, no amendment may be made to a trust agreement if the amendment
would:

. cause Everest Capital Trust to be taxable as a corporation or
characterized as other than a grantor trust for United State's federal
income tax purposes;

. cause the junior subordinated debt securities held by Everest Capital
Trust to not be treated as indebtedness for United States federal income
tax purposes;

. cause Everest Capital Trust to be deemed to be an investment company
required to be registered under the Investment Company Act; or

. impose any additional obligation on Everest Holdings or any trustee of
Everest Capital Trust without its consent.

Removal and Replacement of Trustees

The holder of Everest Capital Trust's common securities may remove or
replace any of the regular trustees and, unless an event of default has
occurred and is continuing under the junior subordinated indenture, the
property and Delaware trustees of Everest Capital Trust. If an event of default
has occurred and is continuing under the junior subordinated indenture, only
the holders of Everest Capital Trust's preferred securities may remove or
replace the property and Delaware trustees. The resignation or removal of any
trustee will be effective only upon the acceptance of appointment by the
successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of the trust agreement.

Merger or Consolidation of Trustees

Any entity into which the property trustee or the Delaware trustee may be
merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity
resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the trustee
shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the
corporate trust business of the trustee, shall be the successor of the trustee
under the trust agreement; provided, however, that the entity shall be
otherwise qualified and eligible.

Information Concerning the Property Trustee

For matters relating to compliance with the Trust Indenture Act, the
property trustee will have all of the duties and responsibilities of an
indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. The property trustee, other
than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under the
trust agreement, undertakes to perform only the duties as are specifically set
forth in the trust agreement and, after an event of default, must use the same
degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the
conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the property
trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the
trust agreement at the request of any holder of the preferred securities unless
it is offered reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and
liabilities that it might incur.

JPMorgan Chase Bank, which is the property trustee for Everest Capital
Trust, also serves as the guarantee trustee under the preferred securities
guarantee described below. We, Everest Holdings and certain of our and its
affiliates maintain banking relationships with JPMorgan Chase Bank.

Miscellaneous

The regular trustees of Everest Capital Trust are authorized and directed to
conduct the affairs of and to operate the trust in such a way that:

. it will not be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a
grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes;

. the junior subordinated debt securities held by it will be treated as
indebtedness of us or Everest Holdings, as the case may be, for United
States federal income tax purposes; and

. it will not be deemed to be an investment company required to be
registered under the Investment Company Act.

The issuer of the related junior debt securities and the trustees of Everest
Capital Trust are authorized to take any action, so long as it is consistent
with applicable law, the certificate of trust or trust agreement, that the
issuer of the related junior debt securities and the trustees of Everest
Capital Trust determine to be necessary or desirable for the above purposes.

Registered holders of the preferred securities have no preemptive or similar
rights.

Everest Capital Trust may not incur indebtedness or place a lien on any of
its assets.

Governing Law

The trust agreement and the preferred securities will be governed by the
laws of the State of Delaware.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE

The preferred securities guarantee will be issued pursuant to a guarantee
agreement between Everest Holdings, as guarantor, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
the guarantee trustee. Everest Group may also guarantee Everest Holdings'
obligations under the preferred securities guarantee. The guarantee agreement
has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this
prospectus is a part. The guarantee agreement will be qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939. The terms of the preferred securities guarantee will
include those stated in the guarantee agreement and those made part of the
guarantee agreement by reference to the Trust Indenture Act.

The guarantee agreement will be held by the guarantee trustee for the
benefit of the holders of preferred securities of Everest Capital Trust.

General

The guarantor will irrevocably agree to pay in full, to the holders of the
preferred securities, the guarantee payments described below, except to the
extent previously paid. The guarantor will pay the guarantee payments when and
as due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that
Everest Capital Trust may have or assert. The following payments, to the extent
not paid by Everest Capital Trust, will be covered by the preferred securities
guarantee:

. any accumulated and unpaid distributions required to be paid on the
preferred securities, to the extent that Everest Capital Trust has funds
available to make the payment;

. the redemption price, to the extent that Everest Capital Trust has funds
available to make the payment; and

. upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, termination, winding-up or
liquidation of Everest Capital Trust, other than in connection with a
distribution of related junior subordinated debt securities to holders
of the preferred securities, the lesser of:

. the aggregate of the liquidation amounts specified in the prospectus
supplement for each preferred security plus all accumulated and
unpaid distributions on the preferred security to the date of
payment, to the extent Everest Capital Trust has funds available to
make the payment; and

. the amount of assets of Everest Capital Trust remaining available for
distribution to holders of its preferred securities upon liquidation
of the trust.

The guarantor's obligation to make a guarantee payment may be satisfied by
directly paying the required amounts to the holders of the preferred securities
or by causing Everest Capital Trust to pay the amounts to the holders.

The preferred securities guarantee will be subject to the subordination
provisions described below and will not apply to the payment of distributions
and other payments on the preferred securities when Everest Capital Trust does
not have sufficient funds legally and immediately available to make the
distributions or other payments.

Status of the Preferred Securities Guarantee

The preferred securities guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation
of Everest Holdings, as guarantor, and may constitute an unsecured obligation
of Everest Group, as additional guarantor, and will rank:

. subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of the guarantor's
other liabilities except those that rank equally or are subordinate by
their terms; and

. equal with any other preferred securities guarantee now or hereafter
issued by the guarantor of the related junior subordinated debt
securities on behalf of the holders of the preferred securities issued
by any other trust.

If Everest Group guarantees the trust preferred securities, Everest Group
will make all payments of principal of and premium, if any, interest and any
additional amounts on, or in respect of, the trust preferred securities without
withholding or deduction at source for, or on account of, any present or future
taxes, fees, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature
imposed or levied by or on behalf of Bermuda or any other jurisdiction in which
any of its successors under the applicable guarantee may be organized. See also
"Description of the Debt Securities--Payment of Additional Amounts" above.

The preferred securities guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment
and not of collection. This means that the holder of the guaranteed security
may sue the guarantor to enforce its rights under the preferred securities
guarantee without first suing any other person or entity.

Amendments and Assignment

No consent of the holders of the preferred securities will be required with
respect to any changes to the preferred securities guarantee that do not
adversely affect the rights of the holders of the preferred securities in any
material respect. Other amendments to the preferred securities guarantee may be
made only with the prior approval of the holders of at least a majority in
aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred securities. All guarantees and
agreements contained in the preferred securities guarantee will be binding on
the guarantor's successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives
and are for the benefit of the holders of the preferred securities.

Events of Default

An event of default under the preferred securities guarantee occurs if the
guarantor fails to make any of its required payments or fails to perform any of
its other obligations, and this failure continues for 30 days, under the
preferred securities guarantee.

The holders of at least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the
preferred securities will have the right to direct the time, method and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the guarantee trustee
relating to the preferred securities guarantee or to direct the exercise of any
trust or power given to the guarantee trustee under the preferred securities
guarantee.

The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of preferred securities may
waive any past event of default and its consequences.

Information Concerning Guarantee Trustee

The guarantee trustee under the preferred securities guarantee, other than
during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under the
preferred securities guarantee, will perform only the duties that are
specifically described in the preferred securities guarantee. After any event
of default, the guarantee trustee will exercise the same degree of care and
skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her
own affairs. Subject to this provision, a guarantee trustee is under no
obligation to exercise any of its powers as described in the preferred
securities guarantee at the request of any holder of preferred securities
unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs,
expenses and liabilities that it might incur.

JPMorgan Chase Bank, which is the guarantee trustee, also serves as the
indenture trustee and the property trustee for Everest Capital Trust. We,
Everest Holdings and certain of our affiliates maintain banking relationships
with JPMorgan Chase Bank.

Termination of the Preferred Securities Guarantees

The preferred securities guarantee will terminate once the preferred
securities are paid in full or redeemed in full or upon distribution of the
related junior subordinated debt securities to the holders of the preferred
securities in accordance with the trust agreement. The preferred securities
guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated if at any time
any holder of preferred securities must restore payment of any sums paid under
the preferred securities or the preferred securities guarantee.

Governing Law

The preferred securities guarantee will be governed by the laws of the State
of New York.

Description of the Expense Agreement

Everest Holdings, as guarantor of Everest Capital Trust's preferred
securities, and Everest Group, if it is also a guarantor of the preferred
securities, will execute an expense agreement at the same time that Everest
Capital Trust issues the preferred securities. Under the expense agreement, the
guarantor will irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee to each creditor of
Everest Capital Trust the full amount of the trust's costs, expenses and
liabilities, other than the amounts owed to holders of its preferred and common
securities pursuant to the terms of those securities. Third parties will be
entitled to enforce the expense agreement. The expense agreement has been filed
as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

The guarantor's obligations under the expense agreement will be subordinated
in right of payment to the same extent as the preferred securities guarantee.
The expense agreement will contain provisions regarding amendment, termination,
assignment, succession and governing law similar to those contained in the
preferred securities guarantee.

RELATIONSHIP OF THE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES, THE
PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AND THE DEBT
SECURITIES HELD BY EVEREST CAPITAL TRUST

Payments of distributions and redemption and liquidation payments due on the
preferred securities, to the extent Everest Capital Trust has funds available
for the payments, will be guaranteed by the guarantor to the extent described
under "Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantee". No single document
executed by the guarantor in connection with the issuance of the preferred
securities will provide for a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of
the preferred securities. It is only the combined operation of the guarantor's
obligations under the preferred securities guarantee, the trust agreement, the
junior subordinated indenture, the related junior subordinated debt securities
and the expense agreement that has the effect of providing a full, irrevocable
and unconditional guarantee of Everest Capital Trust's obligations under the
preferred securities.

As long as the issuer of the junior subordinated debt securities makes
payments of interest and other payments when due on the junior subordinated
debt securities held by Everest Capital Trust, the payments will be sufficient
to cover the payment of distributions and redemption and liquidation payments
due on the preferred securities, primarily because:

. the aggregate principal amount of the junior subordinated debt
securities will be equal to the sum of the aggregate liquidation amounts
of the preferred and common securities;

. the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on the junior
subordinated debt securities will match the distribution rate and
distribution and other payment dates for the preferred securities;

. the guarantor has agreed to pay for any and all costs, expenses and
liabilities of Everest Capital Trust, except the trust's obligations
under its preferred securities; and

. the trust agreement provides that Everest Capital Trust will not engage
in any activity that is inconsistent with its limited purposes.

If and to the extent that Everest Holdings does not make payments on the
junior subordinated debt securities held by Everest Capital Trust, the trust
will not have funds available to make payments of distributions or other
amounts due on the preferred securities. In those circumstances, a holder of
the preferred securities will not be able to rely upon the preferred securities
guarantee for payment of these amounts. Instead, the holder may directly sue
the guarantor to collect its pro rata share of payments owed. If a holder sues
the guarantor to collect payment, then the guarantor will assume the holder's
rights as a holder of preferred securities under the trust agreement to the
extent the guarantor makes a payment to the holder in any legal action.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell our securities in any one or more of the following ways from
time to time:

. to or through underwriters;

. to or through dealers;

. through agents; or

. directly to purchasers, including our affiliates.

The prospectus supplement with respect to any offering of our securities
will set forth the terms of the offering, including:

. the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

. the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us from such
sale;

. any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other
items constituting underwriters' or agents' compensation; and

. any delayed delivery arrangements.

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.

If securities are sold by means of an underwritten offering, we will execute
an underwriting agreement with an underwriter or underwriters, 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 sell the securities. If underwriters are utilized in the sale
of the securities, 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 underwriters at the time of sale.

Our 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 conditions precedent and that the underwriters with respect to a
sale of securities will be obligated to purchase all of those securities if
they purchase any of those securities.

We may grant to the underwriters options to purchase additional securities
to cover over-allotments, if any, at the public offering price with additional
underwriting discounts or commissions. If we grant any over-allotment option,
the terms of such over-allotment option will be set forth in the prospectus
supplement relating to those securities.

If a dealer is utilized in the sales of securities in respect of which this
prospectus is delivered, we will sell those securities to the dealer as
principal. The dealer may then resell those securities to the public at varying
prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. Any reselling
dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as the term is defined in the
Securities Act of 1933, of the securities so offered and sold. The name of the
dealer and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the related
prospectus supplement.

Offers to purchase securities may be solicited by agents designated by us
from time to time. Any 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 us to the agent will be set forth, in the applicable
prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement,
any agent will be acting on a reasonable best efforts basis for the period of
its appointment. Any agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is
defined in the Securities Act of 1933, of the securities so offered and sold.

Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us and the sale
of those securities may be made by us directly to institutional investors or
others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933 with respect to any resale of those securities. The
terms of any sales of this type will be described in the related prospectus
supplement.

Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms may be entitled under
relevant agreements entered into with us to indemnification by us against
certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of
1933, that may arise from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in
this prospectus, any supplement or amendment hereto, or in the

registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or to
contribution with respect to payments which the agents, underwriters or dealers
may be required to make.

If so indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters
or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by institutions to
purchase securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payments and
delivery on a future date. Institutions with which contracts of this type may
be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension
funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and
others, but in all cases those institutions must be approved by us. The
obligations of any purchaser under any contract of this type will be subject to
the condition that the purchase of the securities shall not at the time of
delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the
purchaser is subject. The underwriters and other persons acting as our agents
will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of
those contracts.

Disclosure in the prospectus supplement of our use of delayed delivery
contracts will include the commission that underwriters and agents soliciting
purchases of the securities under delayed contracts will be entitled to receive
in addition to the date when we will demand payment and delivery of the
securities under the delayed delivery contracts. These delayed delivery
contracts will be subject only to the conditions that we describe in the
prospectus supplement.

In connection with the offering of securities, persons participating in the
offering, such as any underwriters, may purchase and sell securities in the
open market. These transactions may include over-allotment and stabilizing
transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in
connection with the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of bids or
purchases for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market
price of the securities, and syndicate short positions involve the sale by
underwriters of a greater number of securities than they are required to
purchase from us, Everest Holdings or Everest Capital Trust, as the case may
be, in the offering. Underwriters also may impose a penalty bid, whereby
selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers in
respect of the securities sold in the offering for their account may be
reclaimed by the syndicate if the securities are repurchased by the syndicate
in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize,
maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities, which may be
higher than the price that might prevail in the open market, and these
activities, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. These transactions
may be effected on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market
or otherwise.

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
trading symbol "RE."

Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms may be customers of,
engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us and our subsidiaries
in the ordinary course of business.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and the related financial statement schedules
incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2001 for each of Everest Group and Everest
Holdings have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of
the firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

LEGAL MATTERS

Conyers Dill & Pearman, Hamilton, Bermuda will pass on the validity of
securities issued by Everest Group. Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, Chicago, Illinois
will pass upon the validity of the securities issued by Everest Holdings.
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware will pass upon the
validity of the

preferred securities issued by Everest Capital Trust. Additional legal matters
may be passed upon for any underwriters, dealers or agents by counsel that we
will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

Everest Group is organized under the laws of Bermuda. In addition, some of
our directors and officers, as well as some of the experts named in this
prospectus, reside outside of the United States. A substantial portion of our
and their assets are located outside of the United States. It may be difficult
for you to effect service of process within the United States on Everest Group
and its directors, officers and experts who reside outside the United States or
to enforce in the United States judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions
against Everest Group or its directors and officers, as well as the experts
named in this prospectus, who reside outside the United States.

We have been advised by our Bermuda counsel, Conyers Dill & Pearman, that a
judgment for the payment of money rendered by a court in the United States
based on civil liability would not be automatically enforceable in Bermuda. We
also have been advised by Conyers Dill & Pearman that a Bermuda court would be
likely to enforce a final and conclusive judgment obtained in a court in the
United States under which a sum of money is payable, other than a sum of money
payable in respect of multiple damages, taxes or other charges of a similar
nature or in respect of a fine or other penalty, provided that:

. the U.S. court had proper jurisdiction over the parties subject to such
judgment,

. the U.S. court did not contravene the rules of natural justice of
Bermuda,

. the judgment of the U.S. court was not obtained by fraud,

. the enforcement of the judgment would not be contrary to the public
policy of Bermuda,

. no new admissible evidence relevant to the action is submitted prior to
the rendering of the judgment by the courts of Bermuda and

. there is due compliance with the correct procedures under the laws of
Bermuda.

We also have been advised by Conyers Dill & Pearman that a Bermuda court may
impose civil liability on Everest Group or its directors or officers in a suit
brought in the Supreme Court of Bermuda against Everest Group or its directors
or officers based on a violation of U.S. federal securities laws, provided that
the facts surrounding the violation would constitute or give rise to a cause of
action under Bermuda law. Some remedies available under the laws of U.S.
jurisdictions, including some remedies available under the U.S. federal
securities laws, may not be allowed in Bermuda courts as contrary to Bermuda
public policy.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Available Information

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the
SEC. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains
additional relevant information about Everest Group, Everest Holdings and
Everest Capital Trust. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit
some of the information included in the registration statement from this
prospectus.

Everest Group and Everest Holdings file reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. You can read and copy any of
this information in the SEC's Public Reference Room, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of this
information by mail from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. You may
obtain information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room in
Washington, D.C. by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

The SEC also maintains an Internet web site that contains reports, proxy
statements and other information about issuers, like Everest Group and Everest
Holdings, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is
http://www.sec.gov. The SEC file number for documents filed by Everest Group
under the Exchange Act is 1-15731 and the SEC file number for documents filed
by Everest Holdings under the Exchange Act is 1-13816.

Everest Group's common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and
its trading symbol is "RE." You can inspect reports, proxy statements and other
information concerning Everest Group at the offices of the New York Stock
Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. For further information
on obtaining copies of Everest Group's public filings at the NYSE, you should
call (212) 656-5060.

Incorporation by Reference

The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate by reference information into
this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be
a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will
automatically update and supersede this information. This prospectus
incorporates by reference the documents listed below:

(a) Everest Group's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2001;

(b) Everest Holdings' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2001;

(d) Everest Holdings' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 2002;

(e) Everest Group's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
30, 2002;

(f) Everest Holding's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
30, 2002;

(g) Everest Group's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 19, 2002;

(h) Everest Group's Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 7, 2002;

(i) Everest Group's Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 13, 2002;

(j) Everest Holding's Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 13, 2002; and

(k) the description of the common shares included in the Registration Statement
on Form 8-A, dated March 8, 2000, filed under Section 12 of the Exchange
Act.

Everest Global Services, Inc.
477 Martinsville Road
P.O. Box 830
Liberty Corner, New Jersey 07938-0830
Attention: Joseph A. Gervasi
(908) 604-3000

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For North Carolina residents: The offered securities have not been approved
or disapproved by the Commissioner of Insurance for the State of North
Carolina, nor has the Commissioner of Insurance ruled upon the accuracy or
adequacy of this document. Buyers in North Carolina understand that neither we
nor our subsidiaries are licensed in North Carolina pursuant to chapter 58 of
the North Carolina General Statutes, nor could we or our subsidiaries meet the
basic admissions requirements imposed by such chapter at the present time.

Except as expressly provided in an underwriting agreement, no securities may
be offered or sold in Bermuda, although offers may be made from outside
Bermuda, and offers may only be accepted from persons resident in Bermuda, for
Bermuda exchange control purposes, where such offers have been delivered
outside of Bermuda. Persons resident in Bermuda, for Bermuda exchange control
purposes, may require the prior approval of the Bermuda Monetary Authority in
order to acquire any offered securities.

A copy of this prospectus has been delivered to the Registrar of Companies
in Bermuda for filing pursuant to the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda. However,
neither the Bermuda Monetary Authority nor the Registrar of Companies in
Bermuda accepts any responsibility for the correctness of any of the statements
made or opinions expressed in this prospectus.

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8,000,000 Preferred Securities

Everest Re Capital Trust

7.85% Trust Preferred Securities

($25 Liquidation Amount)

Guaranteed to the extent described in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus by

Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc.

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
November 8, 2002

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Salomon Smith Barney
Morgan Stanley
Merrill Lynch & Co.
UBS Warburg
Wachovia Securities
Bear Stearns & Co., Inc.
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Lehman Brothers

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