<PAGE> 1
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(b)(3)
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED SEPTEMBER 23, 1998) REGISTRATION NO. 333-63437
1,523,203 Shares
NCS HEALTHCARE, INC.
Class A Common Stock
----------------------
This prospectus supplement relates to the resale by certain of our
stockholders of shares of our class A common stock under a registration
statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form S-3
(SEC File No. 333-63437). The prospectus that is part of the registration
statement was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
September 15, 1998. You should read this prospectus supplement and the
prospectus, which is being attached at the end of this prospectus supplement.
Our class A common stock is traded on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market under
the symbol "NCSS." On April 28, 2000 the closing price reported for our class A
common stock was $ 0.8125.
----------------------
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE
ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
----------------------
The date of this prospectus supplement is May 1, 2000
<PAGE> 2
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The 1,523,203 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
(the "Class A Common Stock") of NCS HealthCare, Inc. (the "Company") covered by
this Prospectus Supplement are being offered and sold by the selling
stockholders named below (the "Selling Stockholders"). The Company issued such
Class A Common Stock to the Selling Stockholders pursuant to an earn out
provision of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated September 19, 1997, among
the Company, NCS Acquisition Sub, Inc., The PharmaSource Group, Inc.
("PharmaSource") and the stockholders of PharmaSource named therein (the "Merger
Agreement").
The following table shows, as to each Selling Stockholder, the number
of shares owned by each Selling Stockholder prior to this offering and the
number of shares of Class A Common Stock being registered hereby. The table
below has been prepared on the basis of information furnished to the Company by
or on behalf of the Selling Stockholders. Because any or all of the shares of
Class A Common Stock listed below may be offered for sale by the Selling
Stockholders from time to time, no estimate can be given as to the number and
percentage of Class A Common Stock that will be held by the Selling Stockholders
upon termination of sales pursuant to this Prospectus Supplement.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares Owned Number of
Prior Shares
Name to Offering to be Registered
---- ----------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Norwest Equity Partners V ...................... 405,577 405,577
Weston Presidio Offshore Capital C.V. .......... 405,577 405,577
William E. Cash, Jr. (1) ....................... 314,011 314,011
JoDee Creighton ................................ 665 665
Jack H. Fainberg ............................... 25,532 25,532
Gary R. Frost .................................. 25,532 25,532
John W. Looney ................................. 5,110 5,110
Luis Pla ....................................... 2,555 2,555
C. David Rhoton (1) ............................ 102,112 102,112
Bryan L. Tarman ................................ 4,252 4,252
Michael W. Wessenberg (1) ...................... 10,105 10,105
Keith B. Enterkin .............................. 4,252 4,252
David Brown .................................... 18,287 18,287
North American Care Corporation ................ 79,119 79,119
Debbie Brandeweide ............................. 214 214
</TABLE>
S-2
<PAGE> 3
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Melinda Martin ................................. 214 214
William K. Mitchell ............................ 33,028 33,028
Ann Nizzi ...................................... 2,076 2,076
Scott McCraney ................................. 1,651 1,651
Adam Cosby ..................................... 1,225 1,225
Comdisco ....................................... 48,072 48,072
Herbert O. Bobo ................................ 34,037 34,037
- ---------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) In connection with the merger, these shares of Class A Common Stock were
issued pursuant to the provisions of employment contracts between PharmaSource
and the Selling Stockholders. The employment contracts are for a period of three
years.
S-3
<PAGE> 4
PROSPECTUS
- ----------
NCS HEALTHCARE, INC.
2,141,418 Shares
CLASS A COMMON STOCK
($.01 par value)
This Prospectus relates to the offering for resale of 2,141,418 shares
of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Class A Common Stock"),
of NCS HealthCare, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("NCS" or the "Company"), by the
persons named herein (the "Selling Stockholders") who have received and by
persons who will receive shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the
acquisition by the Company, or certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries, of the
capital stock or assets of various institutional pharmacies or entities
providing related services in business combination transactions. Such persons
who will receive shares of Class A Common Stock will be named in supplements to
this prospectus to be filed by the Company. All of the Class A Common Stock
being registered may be offered and sold from time to time by the Selling
Stockholders of the Company named herein under the caption "Selling
Stockholders" in transactions on the Nasdaq National Market or in privately
negotiated transactions, at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market
prices or at negotiated prices. See "Selling Stockholders" and "Manner of
Offering." The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Class
A Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders.
The Company's Class A Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq National
Market under the symbol "NCSS." On September 11, 1998, the last reported sale
price for the Class A Common Stock was $17.00 per share.
----------------------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS
THE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
----------------------------------------
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus (including the
material incorporated herein by reference) and, if given or made, such
information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized
by the Company or by any other person deemed to be an underwriter. This
Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to
buy the Class A Common Stock covered by this Prospectus by anyone in any state
in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person
making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so to anyone to whom it
is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. Neither the delivery of this
Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall under any circumstances create an
implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company since
the date hereof.
----------------------------------------
The date of this Prospectus is September 23, 1998
<PAGE> 5
THE COMPANY
The Company has its principal executive offices at 3201 Enterprise
Parkway, Suite 220, Beachwood, Ohio 44122, and its telephone number is (216)
514-3350. As used in this Prospectus, "NCS" and the "Company" shall refer to NCS
HealthCare, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context indicates
otherwise.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in
accordance therewith, files reports and other information with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), which may be inspected and copied at
the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20549. Such reports, proxy statements and
other information filed by the Company are also available for inspection and
copying at the Commission's Regional Offices located at: Northwest Atrium
Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511; and
at Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048-1102. Such
material may also be accessed electronically by means of the Commission's home
page on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The Company will provide, without charge, to each person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy
of any and all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus (not including exhibits to the information that is incorporated
by reference unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference
into the information that the Prospectus incorporates). Such request should be
directed to Kristen H. Schulz, Director of Investor Relations, NCS HealthCare,
Inc., 3201 Enterprise Parkway, Suite 220, Beachwood, Ohio 44122, telephone (216)
514-3350.
The Company hereby incorporates the following documents by reference in
this Prospectus: (a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1997; (b) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for
the periods ended September 30, 1997, December 31, 1997 and March 31, 1998; (c)
the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 6, 1998, January 30,
1998 (as amended on April 17, 1998), April 10, 1998 and June 1, 1998; and (d)
the Company's Form 8-A Registration Statement.
All documents subsequently filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of this offering shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this
Prospectus, including, but not limited to, those regarding the Company's
financial position, business strategy, acquisition strategy and other plans and
objectives for future operations and any other statements that are not
historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important
factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the
Company, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in
these forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that
the actual results or developments anticipated by the Company will be realized
or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected effects on
its business or operations. Among the factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from the Company's expectations include the availability and
cost of attractive acquisition candidates, continuation of various trends in the
long-term care market (including the trend toward consolidation), competition
among providers of long-term care pharmacy services, the availability of capital
for acquisitions and capital requirements, changes in regulatory requirements
and reform of the health care delivery system and other factors.
2
<PAGE> 6
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
Of the 2,141,418 shares of Class A Common Stock covered by this
Prospectus, 141,418 shares are being offered and sold by the Selling
Stockholders named below. Unregistered shares of Class B Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share (the "Class B Common Stock"), held by any of the Selling
Stockholders will be converted on a share-for-share basis into Class A Common
Stock prior to or upon transfer and such underlying shares of Class A Common
stock are being registered for resale. The Company issued such Class A Common
Stock and Class B Common Stock to the Selling Stockholders in connection with
the acquisition by the Company, or certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries, of
the capital stock or assets of various institutional pharmacies or entities
providing related services in business combination transactions. Certain of the
Selling Stockholders have entered into employment agreements and noncompetition
agreements with the Company and/or certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries. The
additional 2,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock covered by this Prospectus
may be issued from time to time by the Company in connection with the
acquisition by the Company, or certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries, of the
capital stock or assets of various institutional pharmacies or entities
providing related services in business combination transactions. Persons who
will receive such shares of Class A Common Stock will be named in supplements to
this prospectus to be filed by the Company.
The following table shows, as to each Selling Stockholder, the number
of shares owned by each Selling Stockholder prior to this offering and the
number of shares of Class A Common Stock being registered hereby. The table
below has been prepared on the basis of information furnished to the Company by
or on behalf of the Selling Stockholders. Because any or all of the shares of
Class A Common Stock listed below may be offered for sale by the Selling
Stockholders from time to time, no estimate can be given as to the percentage of
Class A Common Stock that will be held by the Selling Stockholders upon
termination of sales pursuant to this Prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares Owned Number of
Prior Shares
Name to Offering to be Registered
---- ----------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Jackson Family Limited Partnership............................ 5,631 5,631 (1)
Bonnie H. Innerst............................................. 21,112 21,112 (2)
B. Kent Abbott................................................ 27,054 27,054 (3)
Jalee Abbott.................................................. 26,946 26,946 (3)
J. Nicholas Marchiando and Karen A. Marchiando, Jt. Ten....... 7,407 7,407 (4)
Charles F. Daniel, Jr......................................... 2,500 2,500 (5)
Mack Choplin.................................................. 12,103 12,103 (5)
Tony Bigler................................................... 4,130 4,130 (5)
John Weeks.................................................... 4,130 4,130 (5)
Thomas D'Andrea............................................... 7,076 7,076 (5)
Daniel Rosefelt and Michele Rosefelt, Ten. by Entirety........ 23,329 23,329 (6)
- --------------------
</TABLE>
(1) This amount represents shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the
Company in connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated January
30, 1998, among Precision X-Ray Services, Inc., Medical X-Ray Services,
L.P., Katrina Meals, Krystyn Buddemeyer, the Jackson Family Limited
Partnership, the James B. Jackson Revocable Trust, NCS Mobile
Diagnostics, L.L.C. and the Company.
3
<PAGE> 7
(2) This amount represents shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the
Company in connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated August
4, 1997, among Pharmacy Specialized Services, LLC, Bonnie H. Innerst
and NCS HealthCare of Pennsylvania, Inc. In connection with the
acquisition of assets, NCS HealthCare of Pennsylvania, Inc. entered
into a non-compete agreement, which restricts Ms. Innerst from engaging
in certain business activity that competes with the Company in a
certain 100 mile radius for a period of five years.
(3) This amount represents shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the
Company in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization,
dated May 1, 1998, among B. Kent Abbott, Jalee Abbott, NCS HealthCare,
Inc. and NCS HealthCare of Oklahoma Acquisition Corp. In connection
with the merger, JK Medical Services, Inc. entered into separate
employment agreements, each for a period of three years, with Mr.
Abbott and Ms. Abbott, respectively.
(4) This amount represents shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the
Company in connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated December
2, 1997, among Marco & Company LLC, J. Nicholas Marchiando, Karen A.
Marchiando and NCS HealthCare of Montana, Inc. In connection with the
acquisition of assets, NCS HealthCare of Montana, Inc. entered into
separate employment agreements, each for a period of three years, with
Mr. Marchiando and Ms. Marchiando, respectively.
(5) This amount represents shares of Class B Common Stock issued by the
Company in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated
December 30, 1997, among MedStar Pharmacy, Inc., Charles F. Daniel,
Jr., Samuel C. Yeager, Timothy L. Yeager, Mack Choplin, David Carver,
Cynde Sharpe, Thomas D'Andrea, Chareles E. Trefzger, John Weeks, Tony
Bigler, NCS HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc. and the Company. In
connection with the merger, MedStar Pharmacy, Inc. entered an
employment agreement with Mr. D'Andrea, pursuant to which Mr. D'Andrea
will serve as executive director of MedStar Pharmacy, Inc. for a period
of five years.
(6) This amount represents shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the
Company in connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated November
18, 1997, among Progressive Rehab, Inc., Daniel Rosefelt, Michele
Rosefelt and the Company. In connection with the merger, the Company
entered into separate employment agreements, each for a period of three
years, with Mr. Rosefelt and Ms. Rosefelt. The employment agreements
were terminated effective June 14, 1998. Mr. Rosefelt and Ms. Rosefelt
currently provide consulting services to the Company on a part-time
basis.
MANNER OF OFFERING
Of the 2,141,418 shares of Class A Common Stock covered by this
Prospectus, 141,418 shares are being offered and sold by the Selling
Stockholders named herein. Unregistered shares of Class B Common Stock held by
any of the Selling Stockholders will be converted on a share-for-share basis
into Class A Common Stock prior to or upon transfer and such underlying shares
of Class A Common Stock are being registered for resale. The Company issued such
Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock to the Selling Stockholders in
connection with the acquisition by the Company, or certain of its wholly owned
subsidiaries, of the capital stock or assets of various institutional pharmacies
or entities providing related services in business combination transactions. The
additional 2,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock covered by this Prospectus
may be issued from time to time by the Company in connection with the
acquisition by the Company, or certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries, of the
capital stock or assets of various institutional pharmacies or entities
providing related services in business combination transactions. Persons who
will receive such shares of Class A Common Stock will be named in supplements to
this prospectus to be filed by the Company.
Sales of the shares of Class A Common Stock being registered hereby may
be made from time to time in privately negotiated transactions, at fixed prices
that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices
related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The shares of
Class A Common Stock may also be sold in transactions on the Nasdaq National
Market pursuant to one or more of the following types of transactions: (a) a
block trade in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the
shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal
to facilitate the transaction; (b) purchases by a broker or dealer as principal
and resale by such broker or dealer for its account pursuant to this Prospectus;
and (c) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker
solicits purchasers. In effecting sales, brokers or dealers
4
<PAGE> 8
engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers or dealers to
participate. Brokers or dealers will receive commissions or discounts from
Selling Stockholders in amounts to be negotiated immediately prior to sale. Such
brokers or dealers may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), in connection with
such sales. In addition, any securities covered by this Prospectus that qualify
for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule
144 rather than pursuant to this Prospectus.
The Company has advised the Selling Stockholders of their obligations
under the Exchange Act, and Regulation M promulgated thereunder, to avoid market
manipulation of the Class A Common Stock until the offering pursuant to this
Prospectus by all Selling Stockholders has been completed.
The Company also has advised the Selling Stockholders of their
obligations under the Securities Act to deliver copies of this Prospectus to any
purchaser of their Class A Common Stock.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The Company's Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate")
authorizes capital stock consisting of 50 million shares of Class A Common
Stock, 20 million shares of Class B Common Stock and one million shares of
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"). The Company
is incorporated under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
"Delaware GCL").
COMMON STOCK
At September 11, 1998, there were 13,886,071 shares of Class A Common
Stock and 6,206,631 shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding and
options to purchase 707,625 shares of Class A Common Stock and options to
purchase 164,550 shares of Class B Common Stock. In addition, at such date,
there were an aggregate of 700,000 shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for
issuance under the Company's 1996 Long Term Incentive Plan.
The Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are identical in all
material respects except that (i) shares of the Class B Common Stock entitle the
holders thereof to ten votes per share on all matters, and shares of the Class A
Common Stock entitle the holders thereof to one vote per share on all matters
and (ii) the shares of Class B Common Stock are subject to certain restrictions
on transfer. The shares of Class B Common Stock are not transferable except in
certain very limited instances to family members, trusts, other holders of Class
B Common Stock, charitable organizations and entities controlled by such persons
(collectively, "Permitted Transferees"). These restrictions on transfer may be
removed by the Board of Directors if the Board determines that the restrictions
may have a material adverse effect on the liquidity, marketability or market
value of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.
The Class B Common Stock is fully convertible at any time into shares
of Class A Common Stock on a share-for-share basis and will automatically be
converted into shares of Class A Common Stock upon any purported transfer to
non-Permitted Transferees. Once a share of Class B Common Stock has been
converted into a share of Class A Common Stock, such share of Class A Common
Stock cannot thereafter be re-converted into Class B Common Stock. Because the
Class B Common Stock will at all times be convertible into Class A Common Stock
on a share-for-share basis, holders of Class B Common Stock will be able to sell
the equity interest represented by their Class B Common Stock to persons who are
not Permitted Transferees by converting such shares into Class A Common Stock.
As is the case with Preferred Stock and additional Class A Common Stock,
additional Class B Common Stock can be issued at the discretion of the Board of
Directors.
Except as set forth below (and as provided by law and in the Company's
Certificate now in effect), all matters submitted to a vote of the Company's
stockholders will be voted on by holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock voting together as a single class. Holders of outstanding shares of
Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, respectively, vote separately as
a class with respect to amendments to the Certificate that would increase the
authorized number of shares of Class B Common Stock, or that would make other
amendments to the Certificate (other than increases in the number of authorized
shares of Class A Common Stock) that alter or change the designations or powers
or the preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions or the
5
<PAGE> 9
relative or special rights of either the Class A Common Stock or the Class B
Common Stock so as to affect them adversely.
No cash dividend may be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock
unless an equal or greater dividend is simultaneously declared or paid on the
Class A Common Stock. Otherwise, subject to the rights of holders of Preferred
Stock, if any, the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock rank
equally and have equal rights per share with respect to all dividends and
distributions, including distributions upon liquidation of the Company and
consideration to be received upon a merger or consolidation of the Company or a
sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets. In the case of stock
dividends or stock splits, however, only shares of Class A Common Stock can be
distributed in respect of outstanding Class A Common Stock and only shares of
Class B Common Stock can be distributed in respect of outstanding Class B Common
Stock.
Neither shares of Class A Common Stock nor shares of Class B Common
Stock can be split, divided or combined unless all outstanding shares of the
other class are correspondingly split, divided or combined.
Because of the restrictions on transfer of the Class B Common Stock,
over time shares of Class B Common Stock having ten votes will (unless the
Directors determine to remove such restrictions) be converted into shares of
Class A Common Stock having one vote, as holders convert their Class B Common
Stock into Class A Common Stock in order to sell their shares. Accordingly, the
remaining holders of Class B Common Stock who continue to hold their Class B
Common Stock will realize over time an increase in their relative voting power
in the Company. The Directors and executive officers of the Company and their
affiliates collectively beneficially own approximately 67.3% of the total voting
power of the Company. A substantial portion of this group's stock ownership
consists of Class B Common Stock. If those individuals continue to hold their
Class B Common Stock for the foreseeable future, the degree of control of the
Company by these Directors and executive officers and their affiliates, and
their percentage of the total voting power of the Company, will increase over
time.
Holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock do not have
any preemptive rights or rights to subscribe for additional securities of the
Company and are not subject to any further calls or assessments by the Company.
There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class A
Common Stock or the Class B Common Stock. The shares of Class A Common Stock are
not convertible into any other series or class of the Company's securities.
Subject to the preferences applicable to the Preferred Stock, if any,
outstanding at the time, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock are entitled to dividends, if, when and as declared by the Board of
Directors, from funds legally available therefor and are entitled, in the event
of liquidation, to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of
liabilities and Preferred Stock preferences, if any. See "Preferred Stock."
PREFERRED STOCK
The Company's Board of Directors is authorized, without further action
by the stockholders, to issue, from time to time, not in excess of one million
shares of Preferred Stock in one or more classes or series, and to fix or alter
the designations, powers and preferences, and relative, participating, optional
or other rights, if any, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof, including, without limitation, dividend rights (and whether dividends
are cumulative), conversion rights, if any, voting rights (including the number
of votes, if any, per share), rights and terms of redemption (including sinking
fund provisions, if any), redemption price and liquidation preferences of any
unissued shares or wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, and the number of
shares constituting any such class or series and the designation thereof, and to
increase or decrease the number of shares of any such class or series subsequent
to the issuance of shares of such class or series, but not below the amount then
outstanding. Currently, there are no shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, and
the Company has no present intention to issue any Preferred Stock.
TWO-TIER BUSINESS COMBINATION PROVISION
The Certificate contains a provision designed to help assure that
stockholders of the Company receive equitable treatment, beyond that presently
provided by the applicable state law, in the event of certain Business
Combinations (as defined) between the Company and another corporation or entity.
Delaware law generally requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote to approve
6
<PAGE> 10
a merger, consolidation or disposition of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets. The Certificate raises the affirmative vote required to
approve such a business combination to at least 66-2/3% of the total voting
power of the Company's outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock, unless a Fair Price (as described herein) is paid to each of the
stockholders of the Company.
The Board of Directors is concerned about the partial or "two-step"
tender offer technique of accomplishing corporate takeovers. The first step in
this technique is a tender offer made by another corporation or entity seeking
control at a price that often substantially exceeds the market value of the
target corporation's stock. After acquiring a controlling number of shares, the
entity will then effectuate the second step: a business combination with the
target corporation designed to eliminate the then remaining stockholders'
interest in the corporation. The terms of the second step business combination
may not reflect arms-length bargaining and therefore may not assure proper
treatment of the stockholders remaining after the tender offer.
The Board of Directors intends to prevent persons who might acquire a
controlling interest in the Company from imposing a business combination on
minority stockholders unless such controlling persons are able and willing to
deal fairly with minority stockholders by paying them a fair price for their
interest in the Company. The Board recognizes that this fair price requirement
might have the effect of discouraging unilateral tender offers and other
takeover proposals to acquire control of the Company, as well as unsolicited
acquisitions of the Company's outstanding shares.
The Certificate requires, in addition to any required vote by the then
outstanding Preferred Stock, the vote of not less than 66-2/3% of the then
outstanding shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock and Class B Common
Stock to approve any Business Combination of the Company with any Related Person
(as defined) unless certain conditions have been met. In addition, the 66-2/3%
vote must include the affirmative vote of 51% of the outstanding shares of Class
A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock held by stockholders other than the
Related Person. Accordingly, the actual vote required to approve the Business
Combination may be greater than 66-2/3%, depending upon the number of shares
controlled by the Related Person. A Related Person is defined to include any
person or entity which is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of
shares of Class A Common Stock representing 5% or more of the total voting power
of the Company, including any affiliate or associate of such person or entity.
The term Business Combination is defined to include virtually any transaction
between the Company and a Related Person, including a merger, consolidation or
sale of assets.
The 66-2/3% requirement and the 51% requirement are not applicable,
however (and, therefore, the proposed Business Combination could be approved by
a simple majority of the stockholders unless otherwise required by Delaware
law), if the Related Person pays a Fair Price (as defined) to the Company's
stockholders in the transaction or if a majority of the Board of Directors
approves the transaction. Under the terms of the Certificate, the Fair Price
must be a least equal to the greatest of (i) the highest price paid or agreed to
be paid by the Related Person to purchase any shares of the Company's common
equity securities, (ii) the highest market price of the common equity securities
during the 24-month period prior to the taking of such vote, or (iii) the per
share book value of the Class A Common Stock at the end of the calendar quarter
immediately preceding the taking of such vote. In addition, the Fair Price
consideration to be received by the Company's stockholders must be of the same
form and kind as the most favorable form and kind of consideration paid by the
Related Person in acquiring any of its shares of common equity securities of the
Company.
The Certificate provides that the above provisions regarding two-tier
business combinations may not be amended, altered, changed or repealed except by
the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of the shares of the common equity
securities entitled to vote at a meeting of the stockholders called for the
consideration of such amendment, alteration, change or repeal, and at least 51%
of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon held by stockholders who are
not Related Persons, unless such proposal shall have been proposed by a majority
of the Board of Directors.
THE DELAWARE BUSINESS COMBINATION ACT
Section 203 of the Delaware GCL (the "Delaware Business Combination
Act") imposes a three-year moratorium on business combinations between a
Delaware corporation whose stock generally is publicly traded or held of record
by more than 2,000 stockholders and an "interested stockholder" (in general, a
stockholder owning
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15% or more of a corporation's outstanding voting stock) or an affiliate or
associate thereof unless (a) prior to an interested stockholder becoming such,
the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business
combination or the transaction resulting in the interested stockholder becoming
such, (b) upon consummation of the transaction resulting in the interested
stockholder becoming such, the interested stockholder owns 85% of the voting
stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (excluding, from the
calculation of outstanding shares, shares beneficially owned by directors who
are also officers and certain employee stock plans) or (c) on or after an
interested stockholder becomes such, the business combination is approved by (i)
the board of directors and (ii) holders of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding
shares (other than those shares beneficially owned by the interested
stockholder) at a meeting of stockholders. The term "business combination" is
defined generally to include mergers or consolidations between a Delaware
corporation and an interested stockholder involving the assets or stock of the
corporation or its majority-owned subsidiaries and transactions that increase an
interested stockholder's percentage ownership of stock.
The Delaware Business Combination Act applies to certain corporations
incorporated in the State of Delaware unless the corporation expressly elects
not to be governed by such legislation and sets forth such election in (a) the
corporation's original certificate of incorporation, (b) an amendment to the
corporation's by-laws as adopted by the corporation's board of directors within
90 days of the effective date of such legislation or (c) an amendment to the
corporation's certificate of incorporation or by-laws is approved by (in
addition to any other vote required by law) a majority of the shares entitled to
vote (however, such amendment would not be effective until 12 months after the
date of its adoption and would not apply to any business combination between the
corporation and any person who became an interested stockholder on or prior to
such adoption of such amendment). The Company has not made such an election and,
upon completion of the offering, will be subject to the Delaware Business
Combination Act.
DIRECTOR LIABILITY PROVISIONS
As permitted by the Delaware GCL, the Certificate contains a provision
that eliminates under certain circumstances the personal liability of Directors
(only in their capacities as Directors of the Company) to the Company or its
stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as Directors.
The provision in the Certificate does not change a Director's duty of care, but
it does authorize the Company to eliminate monetary liability for certain
violations of the duty, including violations based on grossly negligent business
decisions, which may include decisions relating to attempts to change control of
the Company. The provision does not affect the availability of equitable
remedies for a breach of duty of care, such as an action to enjoin or rescind a
transaction involving a breach of fiduciary duty; however, in certain
circumstances equitable remedies may not be available as a practical matter. The
provision in the Certificate in no way affects a Director's liability under the
federal securities laws. In addition, the Company's By-Laws and indemnity
agreements entered into with the Company's Directors and officers indemnify its
past and current Directors and officers for and provides advancements in respect
of all expense, liability and loss reasonably incurred in connection with any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, either civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she
is or was a Director or officer of the Company, including, in certain
circumstances under the indemnity agreements, for settlements in derivative
actions.
CLASSIFIED BOARD
The Certificate divides the Board of Directors into three classes. The
Directors serve staggered terms of three years, with the members of one class
being elected in any year, as follows: (i) Phyllis K. Wilson and A. Malachi
Mixon III have been designated as Class I Directors and will serve until the
1999 annual meeting; (ii) Boake A. Sells and Kevin B. Shaw have been designated
as Class II Directors and will serve until the 2000 annual meeting; and (iii)
Richard L. Osborne and Jon H. Outcalt have been designated as Class III
Directors and will serve until the 1998 annual meeting; and in each case until
their respective successors are elected and qualified.
A classified Board of Directors may have the effect of making it more
difficult to remove incumbent Directors, providing such Directors with enhanced
ability to retain their positions. A classified Board of Directors may also make
the acquisition of control of the Company by a third party by means of a proxy
contest more difficult. In addition, the classification may make it more
difficult to change the majority of Directors for business reasons unrelated to
a change of control.
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The Certificate provides that the above provisions regarding
classification of the Board of Directors may not be amended, altered, changed or
repealed except by the affirmative vote of at least 66% of the shares of Common
Stock entitled to vote at a meeting of the stockholders called for the
consideration of such amendment, alteration, change or repeal, unless such
proposal shall have been proposed by a majority of the Board of Directors.
GENERAL
It is possible that the existence of the ten vote per share Class B
Common Stock, the Company's ability to issue Preferred Stock, the increased
voting requirements with respect to a Business Combination provided for in the
Certificate, the provisions of the Delaware Business Combination Act and the
division of the Board of Directors of the Company into classes as provided in
the Certificate, may discourage other persons from making a tender offer for or
acquisitions of substantial amounts of the Company's Class A Common Stock. This
could have the incidental effect of inhibiting changes in management and may
also prevent temporary fluctuations in the market price of the Company's Class A
Common Stock that often result from actual or rumored takeover attempts. In
addition, the limited liability provisions in the Certificate with respect to
Directors and officers may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit
against Directors for breach of their fiduciary duty and may also have the
effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against Directors and
officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have
benefited the Company and its stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder's
investment in the Company may be adversely affected to the extent that cost of
settlement and damage awards against the Company's Directors and executive
officers are paid by the Company pursuant to the indemnification provisions
contained in the Company's By-Laws and indemnity agreements described above.
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
The Company's Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Class A Common Stock
and Class B Common Stock is National City Bank, Cleveland, Ohio.
VALIDITY OF SHARES
The validity of the Class A Common Stock offered hereby will be passed
upon for the Company by Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, Cleveland, Ohio.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of NCS HealthCare, Inc. and its
subsidiaries appearing in NCS HealthCare, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended June 30, 1997, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP,
independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon included therein and
incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are
incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given upon the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The combined statement of assets acquired and liabilities assumed of
Thrift Drug, Inc. and Fay's Incorporated as of January 30, 1998, and the related
combined statement of revenues and direct expenses for the year then ended
appearing in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 1998, as
amended on April 17, 1998, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent
auditors, as set forth in their report thereon included therein and incorporated
herein by reference. Such financial statements are incorporated herein by
reference in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such firm as
experts in accounting and auditing.
With respect to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial
information for the three-month periods ended September 30, 1997, December 31,
1997 and March 31, 1998, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, Ernst &
Young LLP has reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance
with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their
separate reports, included in NCS HealthCare, Inc.'s Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q for the periods ended September 30, 1997, December 31, 1997 and March 31,
1998, and incorporated herein by reference, state that they did not audit and
they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information.
Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their reports on such information should
be restricted considering the limited nature of the review procedures applied.
The independent auditors are not subject to the liability provisions of Section
11 of the Securities Act for their reports on the unaudited interim financial
information because the reports are not a "report" or a "part" of the
Registration Statement prepared or certified by the auditors within the meaning
of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.
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The Company has not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person
to give any information or represent anything not contained in the Prospectus
Supplement or Prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information.
This Prospectus Supplement and Prospectus does not offer to sell or buy any
shares in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful. The information contained in
the Prospectus Supplement is current as of February , 2000.
.........
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Selling Stockholders............S-2
PROSPECTUS DATED SEPTEMBER 23, 1998
The Company.......................2
Available Information ............2
Incorporation Of Certain Documents
By Reference .....................2
Disclosure Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements........2
Selling Stockholders..............3
Manner of Offering................4
Description Of Capital Stock .....5
Validity of Shares................9
Experts ..........................9
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1,750,000 SHARES
CLASS A COMMON STOCK
[LOGO]
NCS HEALTHCARE, INC.
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PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT
February , 2000
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================================================================================
