SERVICE EXPERTS INC
POS AM, 1997-06-13
MISCELLANEOUS REPAIR SERVICES
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<PAGE>   1
 
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 13, 1997
 
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-12319
================================================================================
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             ---------------------
 
                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 4
                                       TO
 
                                    FORM S-4
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                             ---------------------
 
                             SERVICE EXPERTS, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                <C>                                <C>
            DELAWARE                             7623                            62-1639453
 (State or Other Jurisdiction of     (Primary Standard Industrial             (I.R.S. Employer
 Incorporation or Organization)       Classification Code Number)          Identification Number)
</TABLE>
 
                         111 WESTWOOD PLACE, SUITE 420
                           BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE 37027
                                 (615) 371-9990
  (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of
                   Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
 
                                ALAN R. SIELBECK
                             CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
                          AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                             SERVICE EXPERTS, INC.
                         111 WESTWOOD PLACE, SUITE 420
                           BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE 37027
                                 (615) 371-9990
 (Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,
                             of Agent for Service)
 
                             ---------------------
 
                                    COPY TO:
 
                              J. CHASE COLE, ESQ.
                         WALLER LANSDEN DORTCH & DAVIS,
                    A PROFESSIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
                           2100 NASHVILLE CITY CENTER
                                511 UNION STREET
                           NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37219
                                 (615) 244-6380
 
     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC: From time to
time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
                             ---------------------
 
     If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
General Instruction G, check the following box.  [ ]
                             ---------------------
 
     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SECTION 8(A), MAY
DETERMINE.
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
 
                                EXPLANATORY NOTE
 
     The purpose of this Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 is to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission the Form of Common Stock Warrant included as
Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement. The Registrant intends to issue
Warrants to purchase shares of its Common Stock registered pursuant to this
Registration Statement from time to time in connection with acquisitions of the
assets or stock of heating, ventilating and air conditioning service and
replacement businesses. The Prospectus included in Post-Effective Amendment No.
3 filed May 15, 1997 remains unchanged and therefore is not included herein.
<PAGE>   3
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 20.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
     (a) The Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") provides that a
corporation may indemnify any person made party to an action by reason of such
person's status as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation
against expenses, judgments, fines and settlements provided such person acted
(i) in good faith, (ii) in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the Corporation and (iii) with respect to a criminal
action, had no reasonable cause to believe such person's conduct was unlawful.
The termination of an action by a judgment, order, settlement, conviction or
plea of nolo contendere shall not create a presumption that a person did not
meet the standard of conduct set forth above. In actions brought by or in the
right of the corporation, however, the DGCL provides that no indemnification may
be made if the person was adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and
only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action
was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of
liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, such person is fairly
and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall
deem proper. To the extent that a person is successful, on the merits or
otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding instigated because of his or her
status as a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation, the DGCL
mandates that the corporation indemnify such person against reasonable expenses
incurred in the proceeding. A corporation may advance litigation expenses,
including attorneys' fees, to a person who is a party to a proceeding upon such
person undertaking to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined
that such person is not entitled to indemnification. The indemnification and
advancement of expenses under the DGCL are not deemed exclusive of any other
rights to which a person may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of
shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
 
     (b) Article VII of the Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation
provides as follows:
 
          (i) The Corporation shall indemnify, and upon request shall advance
     expenses (including attorneys' fees) to, in the manner and to the fullest
     extent permitted by law, any officer or director (or the estate of any such
     person) who was or is a party to, any threatened, pending or completed
     action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative,
     investigative or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person is or
     was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the
     request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee,
     employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
     trust, other enterprise or employee benefit plan (an "indemnitee"). The
     Corporation may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, purchase and
     maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director,
     officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the
     request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee,
     employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
     trust, other enterprise or employee benefit plan against any liability
     which may be asserted against such person. To the fullest extent permitted
     by law, the indemnification and advances provided for herein shall include
     expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, penalties, fines and
     amounts paid in settlement. The indemnification provided herein shall not
     be deemed to limit the right of the Corporation to indemnify and any other
     person for any such expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines
     and amounts paid in settlement to the fullest extent permitted by law, both
     as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity
     while holding such office.
 
          (ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not
     indemnify any such indemnitee who was or is a party or is threatened to be
     made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or
     in the right of the Corporation to secure a judgment in its favor against
     such indemnitee with the Corporation, unless and only to the extent that,
     the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought
     shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of
     liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such indemnitee
     is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the
     Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
 
          (iii) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses set
     forth in this Article VII are intended to be greater than those which are
     otherwise provided for in the General Corporation Law of the
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   4
 
     State of Delaware, are contractual between the Corporation and the person
     being indemnified, his heirs, executors and administrators, and, with
     respect to this Article VII are mandatory, notwithstanding a person's
     failure to meet the standard of conduct required for permissive
     indemnification under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,
     as amended from time to time. The rights to indemnification and advancement
     of expenses set forth in this Article VII are nonexclusive of other similar
     rights which may be granted by law, this Certificate, the Bylaws, a
     resolution of the Board of Directors or stockholders or an agreement with
     the Corporation, which means of indemnification and advancement of expenses
     are hereby specifically authorized.
 
          (iv) Any repeal or modification of the provisions of this Article VII,
     either directly or by the adoption of an inconsistent provision of this
     Certificate, shall be prospective only and shall not adversely affect any
     right or protection set forth herein existing in favor of a particular
     individual at the time of such repeal or modification. In addition, if an
     amendment to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware limits or
     restricts in any way the indemnification rights permitted by law as of the
     date hereof, such amendment shall apply only to the extent mandated by law
     and only to activities of persons subject to indemnification under this
     Article VII which occur subsequent to the effective date of such amendment.
 
     (c) The Company has obtained insurance for its directors and executive
officers in amounts of $5,000,000 per claim and $5,000,000 for aggregate claims.
 
ITEM 21.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
     (a) Exhibits
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                           DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBITS
- -------                          -----------------------
<C>       <C>  <S>
 3.1      --   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant(a)
 3.2      --   Bylaws of the Registrant(a)
 4.1      --   Form of Common Stock Certificate(b)
 4.2      --   Form of Subordinated Indenture(c)
 4.3      --   Form of Common Stock Warrant
 5        --   Opinion of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, A Professional
               Limited Liability Company(c)
10.1      --   Registrant's 1996 Incentive Stock Plan(a)
10.2      --   Registrant's 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan(a)
10.3      --   Registrant's 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan(a)
10.4      --   Form of Combination Agreement by and among each of the
               Predecessor Companies, each of its respective stockholders
               and the Registrant(a)
10.5      --   Form of Agreement and Plan of Merger among certain of the
               Acquired Companies, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
               Registrant and the Registrant(d)
10.6      --   Form of Combination Agreement between certain of the
               Acquired Companies and the Registrant(d)
10.7      --   Employment Agreement, dated June 26, 1996, between the
               Registrant and Alan R. Sielbeck(a)
10.8      --   Employment Agreement, dated June 26, 1996, between the
               Registrant and James D. Abrams(a)
10.9      --   Employment Agreement, dated June 26, 1996, between the
               Registrant and Anthony M. Schofield(a)
10.10     --   Form of Employment Agreement between the Registrant and
               certain of its employees(a)
10.11     --   Form of Escrow Agreement between the Registrant, each of the
               stockholders of the Subsidiaries and the escrow agent(a)
10.12     --   Form of Equitable Securities Corporation Stock Purchase
               Warrant(a)
10.13     --   Loan Agreement, dated September 10, 1996, between the
               Registrant and SunTrust Bank, Nashville, N.A.(c)
21        --   List of subsidiaries of the Registrant
23.1      --   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP(c)
23.2      --   Consent of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, A Professional
               Limited Liability Company (included in Exhibit 5)(c)
24        --   Power of Attorney(c)
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   5
 
- ---------------
 
(a)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-07037.
(b)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form 8-A, File No. 000-21173.
(c)  Filed previously.
(d)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-21971.
 
     (b) Financial Statement Schedules
 
          All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable
     accounting regulations of the Commission are not required under the related
     instructions or are inapplicable, and therefore have been omitted.
 
ITEM 22.  UNDERTAKINGS.
 
     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
 
          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
 
             (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
        Securities Act of 1933;
 
             (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
        the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
        post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
        aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
        in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
        increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
        dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
        registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
        maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
        with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
        changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the
        maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
        Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
 
             (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
        of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement
        or any material change to such information in the registration
        statement.
 
          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
     to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
     therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
     to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
     any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.
 
     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes as follows: that prior to any
public reoffering of the securities registered hereunder through use of a
prospectus which is a part of this registration statement, by any person or
party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c), the
issuer undertakes that such reoffering prospectus will contain the information
called for by the applicable registration form with respect to
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   6
 
reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the
information called for by the other Items of the applicable form.
 
     The registrant undertakes that every prospectus (i) that is filed pursuant
to the paragraph immediately preceding, or (ii) that purports to meet the
requirements of section 10(a)(3) of the Act and is used in connection with an
offering of securities subject to Rule 415 will be filed as part of an amendment
to the registration statement and will not be used until such amendment is
effective, and that, for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
 
     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a
post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the
company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and
included in the registration statement when it became effective.
 
     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the
purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection
(a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (the "TIA") in accordance with the
rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of
the TIA.
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   7
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to Registration Statement to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the
City of Nashville, State of Tennessee, on June 13, 1997.
 
                                          SERVICE EXPERTS, INC.
 
                                          By:       /s/ ALAN R. SIELBECK
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                      Alan R. Sielbeck
                                                        Chairman and
                                                  Chief Executive Officer
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to Registration Statement has been signed by the
following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        NAME                                         TITLE(S)                    DATE
                        ----                                         --------                    ----
<C>                                                      <S>                                 <C>
 
                /s/ ALAN R. SIELBECK                     Chairman of the Board and Chief     June 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------      Executive Officer (principal
                  Alan R. Sielbeck                         executive officer)
 
                          *                              President and Chief Operating       June 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------      Officer; Director
                   James D. Abrams
 
              /s/ ANTHONY M. SCHOFIELD                   Chief Financial Officer             June 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------      (principal financial and
                Anthony M. Schofield                       accounting officer)
 
                          *                              Director                            June 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
                 Raymond J. DeRiggi
 
                          *                              Director                            June 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
                   Norman T. Rolf
 
                          *                              Director                            June 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
                   William G. Roth
 
                                                         Director
- -----------------------------------------------------
                 Timothy G. Wallace
 
             * /s/ ANTHONY M. SCHOFIELD                                                      June 13, 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------
       Anthony M. Schofield, Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>   8
 
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                           DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBITS
- -------                          -----------------------
<C>       <C>  <S>
 3.1       --  Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant(a)
 3.2       --  Bylaws of the Registrant(a)
 4.1       --  Form of Common Stock Certificate(b)
 4.2       --  Form of Subordinated Indenture(c)
 4.3       --  Form of Common Stock Warrant
 5         --  Opinion of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, A Professional
               Limited Liability Company(c)
10.1       --  Registrant's 1996 Incentive Stock Plan(a)
10.2       --  Registrant's 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan(a)
10.3       --  Registrant's 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan(a)
10.4       --  Form of Combination Agreement by and among each of the
               Predecessor Companies, each of its respective stockholders
               and the Registrant(a)
10.5       --  Form of Agreement and Plan of Merger among certain of the
               Acquired Companies, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
               Registrant and the Registrant(d)
10.6       --  Form of Combination Agreement between certain of the
               Acquired Companies and the Registrant(d)
10.7       --  Employment Agreement, dated June 26, 1996, between the
               Registrant and Alan R. Sielbeck(a)
10.8       --  Employment Agreement, dated June 26, 1996, between the
               Registrant and James D. Abrams(a)
10.9       --  Employment Agreement, dated June 26, 1996, between the
               Registrant and Anthony M. Schofield(a)
10.10      --  Form of Employment Agreement between the Registrant and
               certain of its employees(a)
10.11      --  Form of Escrow Agreement between the Registrant, each of the
               stockholders of the Subsidiaries and the escrow agent(a)
10.12      --  Form of Equitable Securities Corporation Stock Purchase
               Warrant(a)
10.13      --  Loan Agreement, dated September 10, 1996, between the
               Registrant and SunTrust Bank, Nashville, N.A.(c)
21         --  List of subsidiaries of the Registrant
23.1       --  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP(c)
23.2       --  Consent of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, A Professional
               Limited Liability Company (included in Exhibit 5)(c)
24         --  Power of Attorney(c)
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(a)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-07037.
(b)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form 8-A, File No. 000-21173.
(c)  Filed previously.
(d)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed with the Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-21971.

<PAGE>   1

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3

                         [FORM OF COMMON STOCK WARRANT]

                       VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK TIME
                               ON ________, _____


Warrant No. _____                                                ______ Warrants


                              SERVICE EXPERTS, INC.

                   WARRANTS TO PURCHASE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

THIS CERTIFIES THAT, FOR VALUE RECEIVED


___________________________, or registered assigns, is the registered holder of
the number of Warrants (the "Warrants") set forth above. Each Warrant entitles
the holder thereof to purchase from Service Experts, Inc., a corporation
incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company")(and the
Company shall issue and sell to the holder hereof), subject to the terms and
conditions set forth hereinafter, one fully paid and nonassessable share of
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company (the
"Warrant Shares") (or such number of Warrant Shares as may result from
adjustments made from time to time as provided herein) at an exercise price of
_____________________ Dollars ($______) per share (the "Exercise Price") (or
such Exercise Price as may result from adjustments made from time to time as
provided herein).

                  (a) DURATION AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS. The Warrants may be
exercised ____ ____________________________________ and will expire at 5:00 p.m.
New York time, on ___ ______, _____ (the "Expiration Date"). Upon the Expiration
Date, all rights evidenced by the Warrants shall cease and the Warrants shall
become void. The holder of this Warrant shall have the right to purchase from
the Company, in whole or in part, the number of Warrant Shares set forth above
(as adjusted pursuant hereto) at the Exercise Price (as adjusted pursuant
hereto) per Warrant Share, upon (i) surrender of this Warrant to the Company at
the principal office of the Company at 111 Westwood Place, Suite 420, Brentwood,
Tennessee, with the Warrant Exercise Form attached hereto duly completed and
signed by the registered holder hereof or by a duly appointed legal
representative or by a duly authorized attorney, and (ii) payment of the amount
of the Exercise Price (as adjusted pursuant hereto) multiplied by the number of
Warrant Shares in respect of which such Warrant is then exercised (and any
applicable transfer taxes pursuant to the terms hereof) (the "Aggregate
Price"). The Aggregate Price may at the option of the holder be paid (x) in
cash or certified or official bank check payable to the order of the Company in
lawful money of the United States of America, (y) by delivery of debt of
obligations of the Company in an amount equal to the Aggregate Price, or (z) by
delivery of Warrants or shares of the Common Stock of the Company ("Company
Common Stock") having a fair market value (which shall be equal to the closing
price of the Company Common Stock on the date immediately preceding the date of
delivery (which, in the event the Company Common Stock is not publicly traded,
shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company) less, in the case
of Warrants, the Exercise Price) equal to the Aggregate Price.


<PAGE>   2



Upon surrender of this Warrant and payment of the Exercise Price as described
herein, the Company shall issue and cause to be delivered with all reasonable
dispatch to or upon the written order of the registered holder of this Warrant,
and in such name or names as such registered holder may designate, a certificate
or certificates representing shares of Common Stock for the number of Warrant
Shares so purchased upon the exercise of all or a portion of this Warrant,
together with cash in respect of any fraction of a Warrant Share issuable upon
such surrender. If a portion of this Warrant is exercised prior to 5:00 p.m. on
the Expiration Date, New York time, a new Warrant, duly executed by the Company,
will be issued promptly to the holder for the remaining number of Warrant Shares
exercisable pursuant to this Warrant so surrendered, and the Company will
deliver promptly the new Warrant to the holder.

                  (b) FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of Common Stock
shall be issued to the holder in connection with the exercise of this Warrant.
Instead of any fractional shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be
issuable to the holder hereof, the Company will pay to such holder a cash
adjustment in respect of such fractional interest in an amount equal to that
fractional interest of the then current closing price per share of the Company's
Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange or the closing price per share on
the national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or
admitted for trading or, if not listed, the fair market value as reasonably
determined by the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee of the
Board (the "Closing Price").

                  (c) PAYMENT OF TAXES. The Company will pay all documentary
stamp taxes, if any, attributable to the original issuance of this Warrant and
of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrant;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (a) pay any tax
which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer and
delivery of this Warrant or the issuance or delivery of certificates for Warrant
Shares in a name other than that of the registered holder hereof surrendered
upon the exercise of this Warrant or (b) issue or deliver any certificate for
Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant until any such tax required to
be paid under clause (a) shall have been paid, all such tax being payable by the
holder hereof at the time of surrender.

                  (d) MUTILATED OR MISSING WARRANT. In case this Warrant shall
be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company may, in its discretion,
issue in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation of the mutilated
Warrant, or in lieu of a substitution for the lost, stolen or destroyed Warrant,
a new Warrant of like tenor and evidencing the number of Warrant Shares
purchasable upon exercise of the Warrant so mutilated, lost, stolen or
destroyed, but only upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to the Company of such
loss, theft or destruction of such Warrant and indemnity, if requested, also
satisfactory to the Company. Any such new Warrant shall constitute an original
contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost,
stolen, mutilated or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by
anyone.

                  (e) RESERVATION OF WARRANT SHARES; STOCK CERTIFICATES.  The 
Company shall at all times reserve for issuance and delivery upon exercise of
the Warrants, such number of Warrant Shares or other shares of capital stock of
the Company from time to time issuable upon



                                        2

<PAGE>   3



exercise of the Warrants. All such shares shall be duly authorized and, when
issued upon such exercise, shall be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, free and clear of all liens, security interests, charges and
other encumbrances or restrictions on sale and free and clear of all preemptive
rights. All Warrants surrendered upon exercise shall be canceled by the Company
and disposed of. No shares of Common Stock shall be subject to reservation in
respect of Warrants not exercised prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the
Expiration Date.

                  (f) TRANSFER AND REGISTRATION OF WARRANTS AND WARRANT SHARES.
The Warrants and the Warrant Shares, and any interest in either, may be sold,
assigned, pledged, encumbered or in any other manner transferred or disposed of,
in whole or in part, only in accordance with Paragraph (g) hereof, and in
compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and the terms and
conditions hereof. The Warrants and the Warrant Shares have been registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act").

                  (g) EXCHANGE, TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT OF WARRANT. The Warrant
may be exchanged or transferred, at the option of the holder, at any time prior
to the Expiration Date, upon presentation and surrender of the Warrant to the
Company, for other Warrants of different denominations, entitling the holder to
purchase in the aggregate the same number of Warrant Shares. Subject to the
preceding sentence, a Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants
that carry the same rights upon presentation thereof at the office of the
Company, together with written notice specifying the names and denominations in
which new Warrants are to be issued and signed by the holder thereof. The
Warrants may be assigned or transferred, at the option of the holder, upon
surrender of the Warrant to the Company, accompanied (if so required by the
Company) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory
to the Company, duly executed by the registered holder or by a duly authorized
representative or attorney, such signature to be guaranteed by an institution
participating in the STAMP program. Any transfer, exchange or assignment of the
Warrants shall be without charge (other than the cost of any transfer tax) to
the holder and any new Warrant or Warrants issued pursuant hereto shall be dated
the date hereof.

                  (h) RIGHTS OF WARRANT HOLDER. The holder of this Warrant shall
not, by virtue hereof, be entitled to any rights of a shareholder of the
Company, either at law or in equity, and the rights of the holder are limited to
those expressed herein.

                  (i) ANTIDILUTION PROVISIONS.  The Exercise Price and the 
number of Warrant Shares that may be purchased upon the exercise of the Warrant 
and the number of Warrants outstanding will be subject to change or adjustment 
as follows:

                      (i)  If at any time after the date hereof and before 
5:00 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date, (i) the Company shall fix a
record date for the issuance of any stock dividend payable in shares of Common
Stock or (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock shall have been increased by
a subdivision or split-up of shares of Common Stock, then, on the record date
fixed for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such
dividend or immediately after the effective date of such subdivision or
split-up, as the case



                                        3

<PAGE>   4



may be, the number of shares to be delivered upon exercise of the Warrant will
be appropriately increased so that the holder will be entitled to receive the
number of shares of Common Stock that such holder would have owned immediately
following such action had the Warrant been exercised immediately prior thereto,
and the Exercise Price will be appropriately adjusted.

                           (ii) If the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding at any time after the date of the issuance of the Warrant and before
5:00 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date shall have been decreased by a
combination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, then, immediately after
the effective date of such combination, the number of shares of Common Stock to
be delivered upon exercise of the Warrant will be appropriately decreased so
that the holder thereafter will be entitled to receive the number of shares of
Common Stock that such holder would have owned immediately following such action
had the Warrant been exercised immediately prior thereto, and the Exercise Price
will be appropriately adjusted.

                           (iii) If any capital reorganization of the Company, 
or any reclassification of the Common Stock, or any consolidation or share
exchange of the Company with or merger of the Company with or into any other
corporation or any sale, lease or other transfer of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company to any other person (including any individual,
partnership, joint venture, corporation, trust or group thereof), shall be
effected in such a way that the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to
receive stock, securities or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common
Stock, then, upon exercise of the Warrant in accordance with the terms hereof,
the holder shall have the right to receive the kind and amount of stock,
securities or assets receivable upon such reorganization, reclassification,
consolidation, share exchange, merger or sale, lease or other transfer by a
holder of the number of shares of Common Stock that such holder would have been
entitled to receive upon exercise of the Warrant had the Warrant been exercised
immediately before such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, share
exchange, merger or sale, lease or other transfer, subject to adjustments that
shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided
for herein.

                  (iv) No adjustment in the Exercise Price in accordance with
the provisions of subparagraphs (i), (ii), or (iii) above need be made if such
adjustment would amount to a change in such Exercise Price of less than $.10;
provided, however, that the amount by which any adjustment is not made by reason
of the provisions of this subparagraph (iv) shall be carried forward and taken
into account at the time of any subsequent adjustment in the Exercise Price.

                  (j) NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS.  At any time prior to the last 
day of the Exercise Period, in the event:

                                    (i) the Company authorizes the distribution 
to all holders of the Common Stock of evidences of its indebtedness or assets
(other than cash dividends payable out of retained earnings or out of amounts
legally available for distribution under the laws of the State of Delaware); or




                                        4

<PAGE>   5




                                    (ii) of any capital reorganization or 
reclassification of the Common Stock (other than a subdivision or combination of
the outstanding Common Stock and other than a change in par value of the Common
Stock), other than a consolidation, share exchange or merger to which the
Company is a party and for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is
required (other than a consolidation, share exchange or merger in which the
Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any
reclassification or change in the outstanding Common Stock) or of the sale,
lease or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company; or

                                    (iii) of the voluntary or involuntary 
dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company;

then the Company will cause to be mailed to the holder of the Warrant, at least
twenty (20) days before the applicable record or effective date hereinafter
specified, a notice stating the date on which any such consolidation, share
exchange, merger, conveyance, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up
is expected to become effective, and the date as of which it is expected that
holders of Common Stock of record will be entitled to exchange their shares of
Common Stock for securities or other property, if any, deliverable upon such
reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, share exchange, merger,
conveyance, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up.

                  (k) At the Company's expense, the Company will list on the New
York Stock Exchange and on each national securities exchange on which any Common
Stock may at any time be listed, all shares of the Common Stock from time to
time issued upon the exercise of the Warrants, and will maintain such listing so
long as any other shares of Common Stock are so listed; and the Company shall so
list, and shall maintain such listing of, any other shares of capital stock of
the Company issued upon the exercise of this Warrant if and so long as any
shares of its capital stock so to be issued of the same class are so listed or
traded.

                  (l) DEFINITIONS.  For the purposes of this Warrant, the 
following definitions shall apply:

                           (i) "Common Stock"  means (i) the class of stock 
designated as the common stock, no par value per share, of the Company on the
date hereof or (ii) any other class of stock resulting from successive changes
or reclassifications of such shares consisting solely of changes in par value,
or from par value to no par value. Unless the context requires otherwise, all
references to Common Stock and Warrant Shares in this Warrant shall, in the
event of an adjustment pursuant to the provisions hereof, be deemed to refer
also to any other securities or property then issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants as a result of such adjustment.

                           (ii) "Exercise Period" means the period during which 
the Warrant may be exercised as set forth above.



                                        5

<PAGE>   6



                  (m) SUCCESSORS; HEADINGS; AMENDMENTS; BENEFITS OF THIS
AGREEMENT; GOVERNING LAW. All covenants and provisions of this Warrant by or for
the benefit of the Company or the holder of the Warrant shall bind and inure to
the benefit of their respective successors, assigns, heirs and personal
representatives. The headings of paragraphs of this Warrant have been inserted
for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and
shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof. This
Warrant may be amended by the written consent of the Company and the holder of
the Warrant. Nothing in this Warrant shall be construed to give to any person or
corporation, other than the Company and the holder of the Warrant, any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Warrant; but this Warrant shall be
for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company and the registered holder of
the Warrant. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Delaware.



                                        6

<PAGE>   7



                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant
Certificate to be executed by its duly authorized officers.

                                            SERVICE EXPERTS, INC.



Dated:  ______________                      By:____________________________

                                            Title:   _________________________




                                        7

<PAGE>   8



                              WARRANT EXERCISE FORM

                                                     Dated:____________________
                                                                               
                  The undersigned hereby irrevocably exercises this Warrant to 
purchase ____________ shares of Common Stock and herewith makes payment of the 
Exercise Price as determined pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in
this Warrant in lawful money of the United States of America. The undersigned
surrenders this Warrant and all right, title and interest herein to the Company
and directs that the Warrant Shares deliverable upon the exercise of such
Warrants be registered in the name and at the address specified below and
delivered thereto.

                                         Signature_____________________________


Name:__________________________________________________________________________
                                 (Please Print)

Address:_______________________________________________________________________

        _______________________________________________________________________
        City, State and Zip

Code:   _______________________________________________________________________
        Taxpayer Identification or Social Security

Number: _______________________________________________________________________

NOTE: THE ABOVE SIGNATURE MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN ON THE FACE 
OF THIS WARRANT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY 
CHANGE WHATSOEVER




<PAGE>   9


                             WARRANT ASSIGNMENT FORM


                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED _________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers to:

Name:___________________________________________________________________________
                                 (Please Print)

the right to purchase up to ________________ Warrant Shares represented by this 
Warrant and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _____________________
to transfer said Warrant on the behalf of the Company, with full power of 
substitution in the premises.


Dated:___________________                  _____________________________________
                                           Signature of registered holder


Address of Transferee:   _______________________________________________________
City, State and Zip Code:_______________________________________________________
Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number of Transferee:________________


NOTE:  THE ABOVE SIGNATURE MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE 
FACE OF THIS WARRANT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR 
ANY CHANGE WHATSOEVER

<PAGE>   1
                                                                      EXHIBIT 21

                              SERVICE EXPERTS, INC.
                    LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES AS OF JUNE 12, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

               Name                                            State of Incorporation
               ----                                            ----------------------
<S>                                                                  <C>
AC Service & Installation Co., Inc./
   Donelson Air Conditioning Company, Inc.                           Tennessee
Air-Conditioning and Heating Unlimited, Inc.                         Tennessee
Air Experts, a United Services Co., Inc.                             Missouri
Arrow Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.                               Wisconsin
Automated Air, Inc.                                                  Tennessee
B & B Air Conditioning, Inc.                                         Tennessee
B. W. Heating & Cooling, Inc.                                        Tennessee
Bauer Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.                               Tennessee
Brand Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.                               Indiana
C. Iapaluccio Company, Inc.                                          Connecticut
Claire's Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc.                      Tennessee
Coastal Air Conditioning Service, Inc.                               Georgia
Comerford's Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc.                       California
Comfortech, Inc.                                                     Tennessee
Contractor Success Group, Inc.                                       Missouri
Custom Air Conditioning, Inc.                                        Tennessee
Dial One Raymond Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc.                   Tennessee
Eisenbach Enterprises, Inc.                                          Texas
Falso Service Experts, Inc.                                          New York
Frees Service Experts, Inc.                                          Texas
Freschi Air Systems, Inc.                                            Tennessee
Gaddis Co.                                                           Tennessee
Gilley's-Quality Heating & Cooling, Inc.                             Louisiana
Gordon's Specialty Company                                           Tennessee
Griffin Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.                             Indiana
Hardwick Air Masters, Inc.                                           Arkansas
Island Air Conditioning, Inc.                                        Tennessee
Lewis & Guymon, Inc.                                                 Utah
Norrell Heating and Air Conditioning Company, Inc.                   Alabama
Pardee Refrigeration Company Incorporated                            Tennessee
Parker Heating & Air Conditioning, Incorporated                      Tennessee
Roland J. Down, Inc.                                                 New York
Rolf Coal and Fuel Corp.                                             Indiana
Royden, Inc.                                                         Utah
Sanders Indoor Comfort, Inc.                                         Tennessee
Service Experts of Indianapolis, Inc.                                Indiana
Service Experts of Palm Springs, Inc.                                California
Service Experts of Raleigh, Inc.                                     Tennessee
Stark Services Co., Inc.                                             Tennessee
Sunbeam Service Experts, Inc.                                        New York
Superior Air Conditioning Co., Inc.                                  Tennessee
Sylvester's Corp.                                                    Indiana
Vision Holding Company, Inc.                                         Missouri
</TABLE>




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